Should e-scooters face an outright ban?
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Clare Byrne Show on Newstalk with Aviva Insurance.
What decision are coalition leaders meeting to make about an outright e-scooter ban?
Well, coalition party leaders are to meet today to discuss whether an outright ban on e-scooters should be implemented. However, Labour spokesperson on health and Dublin Central TD Marie Sherlock believes such a ban would be a cop out. And she joins me on that. And this is an issue that was discussed at length across the station and indeed on this programme last week and got a huge reaction and lots of coverage in the papers at the weekend to Marie. I mean, my sense of it last week was that listening to Micheál Martin, listening to the Garda Commissioner, listening to Minister Seán Canny, is that they were leaning towards this complete ban. And then looking at the newspapers yesterday, I thought they might be rowing back on that.
What is your sense at this time?
Well, good morning, Ciara, and good morning to all your listeners. Look, I think the first thing to say here is that an all-out ban on e-scooters, I do believe, is a cop-out. And we heard that from both the Taoiseach and heard, I suppose, intimations of such from the Taoiseach. The Garda Commissioner was much more forthright last night.
Why does Labour spokesperson Marie Sherlock call a full e-scooter ban a 'cop out'?
And as you say, others were mentioning it as well. And the reality is that, you know, e-scooters are a legitimate form of transport, I believe. They have certainly helped lots of people who maybe can't access buses at early hours of the morning or indeed, you know, can't afford to buy a car. So it has afforded people a means of transport. However, in saying that, I do believe we've got a public health crisis for children happening at this point in time. And this is not something new. Like we know last year, one in four of all neurological admissions across the paediatric hospitals were e-scooter related injuries. We know that one in two e-scooter related injuries are ending up in ED departments every single day across Children's Health Ireland.
What evidence is presented about e-scooter injuries and the scale of the public health problem?
And there's been a 50% increase in the number of traumatic brain injuries related to e-scooter accidents happening over the past year. And like, as I said to the Tánaiste last Thursday, how can we in all conscience You know, leave the doll. It is now risen for a two month period until the middle of September. How in all conscience can we walk away knowing that there's going to be one to two children admitted to hospitals every single day because of e-scooter related incidents? We need to see urgent and radical action from this government.
OK, and we do know coalition party leaders, as I say, are meeting today. And I heard that Honish just saying before the weekend that he also felt that urgent action needed to be taken. In terms of what the Labour Party are suggesting here, your preference is for a six week ban and then further regulations, close the gaps as you see it in the legislation. So what should that include exactly?
Sure. and the first thing to say Ciara is like in terms of the urgency like I had questions to the Minister for Justice two weeks ago where we were effectively told Gardaí have all the powers of enforcement they just need to go away and do their work and to be honest with you frankly that is not good enough there is a lack of urgency on the part of the Department of Justice and the Department of Transport as well so it is welcome that a meeting is taking place today but I think what needs to happen now such as the seriousness of the situation and I don't say it lightly but i do think we need to see some sort of a temporary ban for the next six weeks so let's face it you know if there's any time of the year tempo is about it would be now when there's more people on holidays or or less people commuting to work and we see that on our roads um to ensure that we get a number of crucial things uh you know put let them get their act together so in terms of guarded training with regards to pursuit we we know from talking to the guard here in the ground in dublin central
But right across the country that, you know, Gardaí don't believe that they cannot pursue, particularly children under the age of 18, because of the potential consequences if there is a serious incident, if they lose their life or, of course, if there is a brain injury.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–0:09
2
What decision are coalition leaders meeting to make about an outright e-scooter ban?
0:09–1:12
3
Why does Labour spokesperson Marie Sherlock call a full e-scooter ban a 'cop out'?
1:12–2:06
4
What evidence is presented about e-scooter injuries and the scale of the public health problem?
2:06–4:11
5
What temporary ban and regulatory changes does the Labour Party propose?
4:11–6:26
6
How could Garda pursuit training, special units, or indemnity change policing of e-scooters?
6:26–9:47
7
What enforcement actions against retailers and import restrictions are being suggested?
9:47–10:37
8
How might government respond and what are the next steps for public debate and coverage?
10:37–11:15