John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on the Road Traffic (Amendment) (Use of Electric Scooters) Bill. I refer to a reply I received from the Minister on 8 May this year. It states:

The Road Traffic Act 1961 defines a mechanically propelled vehicle as a vehicle intended or adapted for propulsion by mechanical means, including a bicycle or tricycle with an attachment for propelling it by mechanical power, whether or not the attachment is being used. It also includes a vehicle the means of propulsion of which is electrical, or partly electrical and partly mechanical.

E-scooters and powered skateboards fall into this category, and are therefore considered to be mechanically propelled vehicles. Any users of such vehicles in a public place ... must have insurance, road tax and a driving licence, with penalties under road traffic laws ...

As it is currently not possible to tax or insure escooters or electric skateboards, they are not considered suitable for use in a public place.

There is no ambiguity about that. The Minister further stated he had requested the Road Safety Authority to do some research and, following that research, he would make a decision on whether to amend existing legislation. The Minister of State, Deputy Griffin, more or less used the same line earlier when he stated: "To be better informed when making a decision as to whether the Minister should legislate for the use of such vehicles" before referring to a report commissioned in November last year. Most Members who spoke in the debate were of the view that e-scooters are here to stay and that legislation is required to manage them in a safe manner, both for pedestrians on the streets and users of the e-scooters. What is missing from the Minister's reply that I cited and the contribution of the Minister of State is a commitment to introduce legislation. It seems there may be legislation and the matter is open to consideration.

I listened carefully to the contributions of most speakers and they are resigned to the fact that, regardless of whether the Minister likes it, e-scooters is one of the modes of transport we will see in cities and urban areas. It is not just a Dublin issue. People like them and have different views on them. They can be used for recreational purposes. In time to come, e-scooters will be deposited in different areas, as occurs with the bicycle schemes, but that is another debate. Members who spoke were clear that they want to see legislation to make these vehicles safe, both for the users and pedestrians, but there is no commitment from Government to do that.

I ask Deputies who said they would support the Government amendment to defer reading the Bill a Second Time for three months to think twice. This is a Private Members' Bill to go to Committee Stage. It is a slow process and rather than delay the Bill unnecessarily, there will be ample time to complete the public consultation, which concludes at the end of November. It was November last year when the Minister first requested the Road Safety Authority to produce a report. The Government is not acting with haste on this issue. It has been slow to act. I ask colleagues who said we must legislate not to support the Government amendment. I ask them to support this Bill and allow it proceed to Committee Stage where legitimate issues related to speed, drink driving and age can be dealt with methodically and properly. I urge colleagues to support the Bill and ensure that those who are using e-scooters are regulated as a matter of urgency.

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