The Gathering
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Now, after all that excitement, it is time for our Friday gathering. And this week, I'm joined by Dee Ryan, Fianna Fáil senator from Limerick, who gets to sit where Max the dog was sitting just there. So maybe stay a bit back from the microphone. Padraig Tobin, leader of AIM2 and TD from Meath West. Louise Byrne, political correspondent with the Irish Examiner. And Sinéad O'Carroll, editor of thejournal.ie. Good morning to you all. Thanks a million for joining us. Dee, scramblers and e-scooters. The Taoiseach has said he's leaning towards a full ban on e-scooters. Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said he absolutely would support a ban. Where do you stand on it?
Well, look, I welcome the focus on it. It is a real challenge right across our city and countries. Personally, I'm not certain about an all-out ban. I would prefer to see us move towards a licence and insurance regime. and to take that step first. And I'll tell you why, David. In Limerick, when I look around, I see three different categories of users of e-scooters. I see commuters, I see people going to work, students going to college. Then I'd see what you might call the leisure or the, you know, the play type use of scooters. Often, regrettably, these are children under the age of 16. And then there are an element, a cohort of people using it for criminal activity and for antisocial behaviour. And I certainly believe that we should be
Should e-scooters be fully banned or regulated with licences and insurance?
doubling down on our efforts to inform parents because the RSA had results of a survey out there recently that suggested that over 50% of people are not aware that it is illegal for children under the age of 16 to be using these vehicles.
But it's illegal and the head of the police force and the head of the government don't believe scooters can be safely integrated into our transport infrastructure. So are we just pretending that regulation is working when it clearly isn't?
Well, I would I would disagree with you there. And I think just to be clear, Neil Martin said he was open to considering it. He's leaning towards it. That's not a decision made. And of course, it would be a decision for the whole of government. But I mean, we have had a significant crackdown in e-scooters since the government was formed in 2025. And indeed. There was a tripling in the number of e-scooters that were seized or detained between 24 and 25. And just in quarter one of this year so far, 754 e-scooters have been seized or detained. So there is a real focus on it. The legislation is in place. I think we need to increase awareness of what the legislation is. I believe we should be taking them out of toy shops.
I mean, it's understandable why parents believe that this is a suitable birthday gift or Christmas gift for a child if they're available in toy shops. So I would be pro taking them out of toy shops and introducing an insurance and a licensing regime.
Yeah, Padder Tobin, I mean, it's already illegal for people under 16 to be on an e-scooter. And yet they're at it all over the country. I don't know about Meath West, but certainly any city or town in the country, you'll see them. Unfortunately, we're seeing the effects. I mean, the doctors in Temple Street have been really, really vocal about this. Surely the only way to if the current regulation, the current system is not working and it's not surely the only way to deal with it is a complete ban.
Well, there's three systems, either Wild West, which we kind of have now, proper registration or banning. And I actually think we should at least try their proper registration. One of the big problems at the moment is that a person on an e-scooter is anonymous. Now, imagine if we all drove anonymous on a daily basis.
So are cyclists.
What types of e-scooter users are causing safety concerns in Irish towns?
Yes, but a cyclist is self-powered, obviously. These are far more powerful. And the problem as well, like I've seen kids, you know, three, four kids on scooters, you know, driving the wrong way down the street in different directions, wrong way around roundabouts, etc. And there needs to be proper regulation. There needs to be a registration plate.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–1:19
2
Should e-scooters be fully banned or regulated with licences and insurance?
1:19–3:19
3
What types of e-scooter users are causing safety concerns in Irish towns?
3:19–12:59
4
Can enforcement and Garda pursuit effectively reduce illegal scooter use?
12:59–28:49