Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for not being here earlier but I was chairing a meeting. I have a couple of important points to make on the Bill. When it comes to regulation, we must be careful to ensure we avoid harming people who need these vehicles. I know first-hand of the important role quads play in many facets of life, including in farming communities and among contractors. One even sees their use now in road traffic management where road works are being carried out. They are a convenient vehicle for convoying during road works and escorting traffic in a managed way. They are very important vehicles on and off our roads. There are many farmers who would be more upset if one took their quad than if one took anything else. Quads save their legs whether it is to repair fences or go out on the land when sheep are grazing. There are many attachments one can use, including a box to bring a sick or pet lamb home. We have to be very careful about regulation in those circumstances. What worries me sometimes is that people can bring in regulations without knowing what they are talking about. When people think of quads or vehicles like that, they may think of what they have seen where people have used them on beaches for enjoyment purposes. I am talking, however, about purely practical uses like spraying rushes or topping on ground which cannot be covered by any other vehicle as well as for different contracting purposes. In everything we do in the House, we must understand what we are doing.

Unfortunately, in the years since quads came on the scene, a number of my friends have been seriously injured on them. By their nature, quads do not have cabs or roll bars as they would not be as functional with those. The fact that they do not have roll bars or a legal requirement for them means injuries have occurred which would not otherwise have been caused. Things like that must be looked at also. We must ensure that vehicles are not only practical but safe for users. I will never forget the story Deputy Mattie McGrath told me about a very sad and horrific event involving a quad. We must be careful about what we discuss in the House.

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