Irish Examiner View: Government hoping to shake off reputation as a do-nothing outfit

Wed, 14 Jan, 2026 - 01:01

A reputation, once earned and irrespective of whether it reflects well or poorly, is an extremely hard thing to shake off.

That is the challenge for the Government in the Dáil term that began yesterday.

E-scooter safety - Improving rules

Ministers will meet soon to discuss the compulsory use of helmets and high-visibility jackets by

Any road user in Ireland — indeed any road user anywhere in the world — has become aware in recent years of the explosion in popularity of e-scooters.

They equally become very wary of e-scooter riders and the widespread indiscipline among them when it comes to obeying the rules of the road.

What is equally concerning is the vulnerability of e-scooter users, especially considering the speeds at which they travel.

Given that there were three e-scooter fatalities in this country last year and a growing number of people seriously injured, it is little surprise that the Government is planning an “aggressive” drive to tighten the laws regarding their use.

With road deaths having hit a nine-year peak in 2025, renewed vigour is needed across all road user sectors to reduce the figure of 190 fatalities which occurred in that period. But the focus on e-scooters is unsurprising and overdue.

A report last month from the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland stated that e-scooter accidents were now the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries in children admitted to the paediatric neurosurgical centre in Temple Street.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and road safety minister Seán Canney have stated their determination to strengthen regulations and improve the enforcement of rules regarding the speed and underage use of e-scooters.

They will meet soon with transport minister Darragh O’Brien to discuss the matter, and top of the agenda will be the compulsory use of helmets and high-visibility jackets.

What is disappointing, however, is that it appears they will stop short of requiring riders to be licensed and their scooters registered.

If this were to limit the use of these vehicles and make users more responsible for their actions, it seems that these steps would be worthwhile.

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