John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

This is a transport issue. Under the last Government, and it was generally welcomed at the time, the Minister for Transport introduced very relaxed laws around e-bikes, e-scooters and electric bikes. Now there are electric bikes and scooters that travel at the speed of mopeds and motor bikes that are completely powered-up and do not require any pedalling activity to get them moving. At the same time there are regular electric bikes and regular e-scooters that are probably fit for cycle tracks and active travel schemes we have developed. Does the Minister agree that it is time that we look at reining in and tightening up some of the rules, particularly around the delivery bikes that are packed with a twin battery pack that can travel 40 km/h or 45 km/h in cycle tracks? They are essentially mechanically-propelled vehicles to a degree but they are abiding by the same laws as push bikes.

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