Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will make a brief response, although I could respond all day.I have alluded to the fact that there is an interpretation problem in the sense that one could argue that the fact one must manually propel some of scooters before the electric element kicks in indicates there is a grey area here. The fact that e-scooters and powered skateboards are deemed to fall into the category covered by the two paragraphs and are considered, therefore, to be mechanically propelled vehicles, MPVs, meaning users must also have insurance, road tax and a driver's licence, while at the same time we are unable to provide that option to people if they wish to get these vehicles, outlines how crazy and grey the situation is for everybody, including the Garda and the Minister. I have spoken to the Minister about this matter and know that he does not wish to make these vehicles illegal.

The Minister of State said that the Minister "will not be supporting a pilot scheme for the use of electric scooters". In the context of the foregoing, of course the Minister is not going to support a pilot scheme. We need to sort out the legal situation and then we can have a pilot scheme. That can be done pretty quickly. I hope that the Minister of State will encourage the Minister along those lines and I will speak to him as soon as I get the opportunity.