Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Listening to the tales of woe of people who have bought electric vehicles, bikes and cars, they seem like some very unlucky people. A number of my friends and family have had very positive experiences. I do not dispute for a moment the cost of replacing batteries and I am sure they have all broken down but it really strikes me that that is a lot of very unlucky people who may just be out of kilter with the rest of people's experiences. I would be cautious in respect of these amendments on giving powers to override or bypass local democracy. I do not think that is the intention at all; it is to ensure that is enhanced. We need to do whatever it is that we can do.

I am speaking this evening after being in contact with a man, Neil Fox. Neil's sister Donna, a very committed cyclist, was knocked down and killed. He is a cycling campaigner and I am in touch with him on a fairly regular basis. I am a very recent convert myself. The last time the Green Party was in government it advised us all to buy diesel cars. I did that. I believed at the time that I was doing the right thing. I now realise that possibly was not the best idea but I am reluctant to change a car that is still functioning. I am trying instead to leave my car at home to the greatest extent possible, so I use the train and walk and I have now started to cycle. It is a bit of a revelation to be on the bike when I am used to the car and I would have been a bit of a petrol head. The Acting Chairman and I share a constituency. It is quite the adventure to get on the rothar sometimes. We really need to be doing whatever we can to ensure that we make the roads safe for those who are cycling on them. In Skerries a couple of weeks ago, Sustainable Skerries organised a Critical Mass cycle and we took over the streets in our small town. It was very empowering as a cyclist to be able to cycle in a group. We did it at a time when it did not discommode people but we made our point fairly effectively. I try to channel the spirit of the meteorologist, Joanna Donnelly, when she says "whatever lane I am in is the cycle lane." I have to share the lane with motorists and sometimes as a motorist I share the lane with cyclists.

While I appreciate that we will not get to amendment No. 7 this evening, I ask the Minister please to take a look at it. It is a very well-written and well-intended amendment. It will enhance safety. While we are waiting on the infrastructure, we have to have a mechanism by which we hold all road users to account. I gave a commitment to Neil Fox that I would speak on this issue. It is important for those of us who are starting on the road to becoming regular cyclists that we are part of this conversation and that we have a chance to make a contribution. It can be quite nerve-wracking. I was not very familiar with what a close pass felt like until about a year and a half or two years ago. It is quite scary. When we talk about putting infrastructure in place, that needs to be done quickly. It also needs to be done in consultation with local communities. When we go out and talk to people, we find they do want that enhanced infrastructure. They want their kids to be able to cycle to school. The Minister also has to recognise that not everybody can cycle or access public transport. Sometimes people have to use their cars. Where we have to share the road, we need to maximise whatever safety measures can be put in place to ensure that we can all use the road safely and share the road.

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