In the past year, the number of children admitted to Temple Street with brain injuries from accidents on e-scooters has increased by 50%. I think we have agreement across the House that this is an ever-worsening public health crisis at this point. It is clear that the ban on under-16s using e-scooters has been a monumental failure. We need a new approach. As the Tánaiste has just said, instead of a ban, we need regulation that is workable and enforceable. We have some proposals today that the Tánaiste might consider ahead of his meeting next week. It is crucial that we have a mandatory vehicle registration system where we register not only every e-scooter, but every rider. We also need to ban the sale or supply of e-scooters to children or young people under the age of 16. Crucially, gardaí must be given the resources and the appropriate training to be able to pursue and enforce what is current legislation. The fourth piece, the bike-to-work scheme, has been an incredible success. What we know is that a significant portion of the parents who have bought these e-scooters for children and young people did not know they were doing anything wrong. Instead of a ban, what I am asking is that the Government consider a scheme that will allow parents and children to hand back these e-scooters and be given a bike in return. It is a healthy alternative. It is not punitive, and it gives the Government something of an opportunity to show that we are taking this seriously, alongside the regulation.

Sentiment score: -0.03