Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Minister. With emerging AI technology and deepfake videos, there is potential for abuse. There is no question about that. However, the overarching concern here should be the safety of all our road users and particularly the vulnerable ones. If we already have a justice system and a police force that has successfully used such evidence in prosecutions, we should all share the ambition to open up that opportunity to all road users so they feel equally safe and entitled to a safe space on our public roads. The issue is very straightforward. It is a matter of the mechanism whereby people can submit the evidence and how it is assessed and treated by members of the Garda Síochána. In some stations around the country there are consistent and successful prosecutions and a very supportive environment for people who submit such evidence, while in other stations there is a dismissive attitude or gardaí who are not even aware of the law on the safe overtaking of cyclists. It is something we need to be cognisant of and concerned about as we move forward.