Government leaders to meet over future of e-scooters

Children's Health Ireland stated there has been a 50% increase in the number of children seriously hurt while riding e-scooters.

Government leaders will meet on Monday to discuss the future of e-scooters, as retailers begin to limit sales.

Last weekend, tech giant Amazon, among others, delisted e-scooters which are not in compliance with Irish rules around speeds. Across the weekend, a number of retailers took down scooters capable of travelling above 20km/h in accordance with Irish regulations.

Government leaders will meet on Monday to discuss e-scooters, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and junior transport minister Sean Canney both saying this week they were leaning towards a ban and Tánaiste Simon Harris calling for action.

Ahead of that meeting, Fine Gael TD Michael Murphy, for Tipperary South, who chairs the Oireachtas transport committee, said he had been informed by Amazon that an electric foldable e-scooter has been removed from sale and an investigation is now underway at the online retail giant.

Mr Murphy called on all retailers selling e-scooters, which are marketed at children or are capable of exceeding the legal speed limit, to remove them from sale on their platforms or shop floor.

“A child’s health and a person’s well-being is far more important than any business profit margin,” Mr Murphy said.

“I commend Amazon for the quick action taken. It displays responsibility and transparency from a business.

“I now call on all other retailers to follow suit and pull these e-scooters from being sold in their shops and online. Some of these are specifically marketed at children as young as six years old.”

On top of Amazon’s decision, another retailer, aliexpress.com, has also stopped selling an e-escooter after Mr Murphy highlighted it on Thursday.

It is now no longer for sale in Ireland.

“Two retailers have since taken action. But it isn’t enough,” he said.

Under Irish laws, e-scooter users must be at least 16 years of age, and devices used on public roads cannot exceed a design speed of 20km/h.

Rise in injuries

It comes amid reports from Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) that there has been a 50% increase in the number of children seriously hurt while riding electric scooters, despite it being illegal for under-16s to use them.

The Irish Examiner understands that further advice will be sought from the Attorney General and that a definitive decision may not be reached on Monday.

Mr Canney is expected to bring an options paper to the leaders meeting this evening.

Likewise, a report from CHI, requested by health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNell and deputy chief medical officer Ellen Crushell, will not be ready until the middle of August.

Last week, both Mr Canney and Mr Martin backed calls for an outright ban, as did Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, who said e-scooter riders are using them for drug dealing and for drug-debt intimidation.

Despite welcoming the moves by online retailers, the Green Party has called for toy shops to end their sale of the vehicles.

Councillor Feljin Jose, Green Party spokesperson on transport, said those who purchase scooters for children should be held accountable: “If you sell an e-scooter to a child, or buy one for a child, then you should be held accountable, just as you would if you bought them cigarettes or alcohol.

“Too many children are being injured and lives have been lost because of the proliferation of use of e-scooters by under-16s. We need to see enforcement of the existing ban on their use for under- 16s, accompanied by a ban at point of sale.”