Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)

I rise today to be associated with the words of sympathy towards the families of the five young people who were killed in that horrific road crash over the weekend. No family wants to receive tragic news. It is terrible to hear that five young people lost their lives when they were going out to have their night. My sympathies to them, and to their families and friends. Obviously this tragedy will have a knock-on effect on their outer circle of friends, as well as their family circle.

I wish to thank Paschal Donohoe for his contribution to Ireland with his 20 years of public service, not only as a Minister but as a local councillor. I wish him and his family all the best in his new role. It certainly was a big shock for everybody today to see a steady pair of hands announce that he was stepping down. I think it is a great honour for him and for Ireland that he is now going to work in Washington and I wish him all the best.

Lastly, I agree with the comments Senator Brady made about scooters because recently I saw an older lady get an awful fright when she was nearly knocked down by a person on a scooter on a footpath. We need to bring in proper regulation and ensure the use of scooters is controlled and regulated not only by the Garda but by traffic wardens. I believe that traffic wardens should be given the right to issue tickets to people who unnecessarily use scooters and bicycles on footpaths because many older people do not hear a scooter or bicycle coming behind them. We should have a debate on the use of scooters.