Jim O'Callaghan
Dublin Bay South · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“This relates to section 69 of the Bill as passed by Dáil Éireann, which amends Schedule 5 to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 to add the Courts Service to the Schedule.”
“The first four amendments in this group are minor drafting corrections. They corrected the wording in four places so that the Bill reads consistently. It is changing the word "references" to "a reference". They make no change to the substance or effect of the Bill.”
“The ARP scheme was introduced in July 2022 to recognise the generosity of members of the public who opened their houses, whether in their entirety or through the provision of a room, at their own expense to provide shelter to people displaced by the Ukraine war. The Department of Social Protection administers the scheme on my behalf.”
“I have no doubt it will be challenged, and I have to be able to convince a court, if it is being challenged, that this legislation weighs up conflicting interests and recognises there is a mechanism for somebody who has reformed himself to get off the register.”
“The scheme has been a lifeline for people from Ukraine displaced by the conflict, given high rental market rates and scarcity of rental accommodation.”
“I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle in the first instance for presiding over these Stages of the legislation. I am very pleased that this legislation has been enacted. I want to thank a few people very briefly. I thank Deputy McAuliffe for introducing me to Jason Poole. I thank Senator O'Loughlin for her work on this issue in the Seanad.”
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“It is for all these reasons that the Government and both Houses of the Oireachtas have given approval in accordance with the Constitution for Ireland to opt in to these measures. The proposal to opt-in was debated at length in the Houses before the opt-in motions were approved. It is difficult, therefore, to understand how the joint committee made the recommendation it did. I should add that it would not be legally possible to seek to opt out even if that was the democratic wish of the Houses of the Oireachtas.”
“If Members say that we should not have opted in to the regulations and directives associated with the EU migration pact, they should then recognise there is still an ability for them to put into this Bill what they say they would like to see in it. I am conscious that Deputy Carthy will, I suspect, say that he would not have opted in to the pact. That may very well be the position of Sinn Féin but there is an obligation on Deputy Carthy and Sinn Féin to state what measures they would like to see in this legislation that are not in it at present. We can just ignore the pact and decide what Members want to put into the Bill that is not in it at present. That is something that would focus minds on whether or not this is the best method of reforming the asylum process, and I believe it is.”
“Faster decision-making will also mean that successful applicants will be granted international protection sooner and those whose applications are refused can be returned to their country of origin sooner. Having a common system across the EU makes sure that all applicants are treated the same in every member state, with no incentive to move from one to another. If Ireland had not opted in to the pact, it is likely that we would face higher levels of secondary movement, slower processing and a less efficient returns system. This would result in applicants staying in the system for much longer, at much greater cost to the State in terms of the provision of accommodation and other supports.”
“In that context, I would like to address the recommendation of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, which is chaired by Deputy Carthy and of which Deputy Gannon is a member, in its pre-legislative scrutiny report that opting out of the majority of the EU migration and asylum pact be reconsidered. The pact and the Bill introduce faster processing of asylum claims with a much more efficient decision-making system. Faster processing will mean that applicants spend less time in International Protection Accommodation Service, IPAS, centres and will significantly reduce the cost of the asylum system to the State.”
“This Bill delivers on the programme for Government commitment to implement the regulations and directives agreed by the EU by 12 June 2026. This Bill represents the most significant reform of Irish asylum laws in the history of the State. It will put in place a new framework to manage migration and asylum for the long term. It will improve decision-making structures within the international protection system and provide faster timelines for the processing of international protection applications. The overall objective of the Bill is to provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure that is consistent with how asylum laws operate across the EU.”
“It does not serve applicants who are granted international protection, who face challenges in integrating into Irish society due to these delays; it does not benefit the State to have increasingly high demands placed on an already stretched accommodation system; and it undermines public confidence in the systems and agencies designed to provide effective protection to those who need it. The challenges we currently face in providing an asylum system that is fit for purpose are shared by other EU member states. The overall objective of the migration and asylum pact is to provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU. It is for these reasons that I am introducing the International Protection Bill 2026.”
“Migration and asylum are shared challenges that are increasingly difficult for any one country to deal with acting alone in a globalised and interdependent world. In 2025, my Department received approximately 13,000 applications for international protection. Although this is down 30% from the 2024 figure of 18,500, it is clear that issues will arise when attempting to deal with large numbers of international protection applicants in a system that was not designed to handle such demand. Decisions have historically taken far too long. This situation benefits no one.”
“These include workers in our healthcare system, hospitality industry, construction sector and tech industry. Each of these sectors has benefited from, and relies on, the excellent work provided by migrants who have come to Ireland to work. This Government is very clear about the value of migration to Ireland. The vast majority of people coming to Ireland are here to work or study. This Government also fundamentally believes in the right to claim asylum. We will always uphold our obligation on this important principle of international law for the sake of those who need our protection. At the same time, migration and asylum have given rise to challenges not only for Ireland, but across the EU.”
“I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am very pleased to introduce the International Protection Bill 2026 to the House. Migration has been a distinctive feature of Ireland’s history. Few countries in Europe have been as affected by emigration over the past two centuries as Ireland, with millions having left in search of safe haven, economic prosperity and opportunities not afforded to them at home. In recent years, we have become a country that is able to provide the opportunities those who emigrated once sought. We are a safe and successful country with a vibrant economy, which has meant that people from across the globe want to come to Ireland in search of a better life. Over the years, we have seen the invaluable contribution that foreign-born workers have made in Ireland.”
“I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Proposal for a Council Decision on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation on the transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 11th December, 2025.”
“I would also look for them to express similar support when it comes to the agreement between the EU and Canada, which is really a fundamental agreement. We should be able to enter into an agreement with a country as benign as Canada when it comes to ensuring that trade operates effectively between the EU and Canada.”
“Issues concerning fundamental rights are at the heart of the PNR directive. It has gone to the CJEU and the court has recognised the validity of it because it is consistent in protecting the fundamental rights of individuals. When it comes to the agreements between the EU and other entities around the world, we have to be able to enter into agreements with countries such as Switzerland and Canada. If we cannot enter into agreements with countries as benign as those two countries, we are going to find ourselves in a very difficult position. I appreciate and welcome the fact that Deputies Gannon and Carthy are supporting this proposed conclusion and signing of the agreement with the Swiss Confederation.”
“I am very confident that the proposal here has a democratic mandate and I believe the sovereignty of Ireland has been increased and strengthened by our continued support for the EU. Deputy Gannon mentioned issues in respect of PNR data agreements. Obviously, as he will be aware, there are specific rules in respect of the retention of PNR data. It is procured and collected in the first instance solely for the purpose of fighting terrorism and serious crime. He will also be aware that this data has to be processed and controlled in accordance with fundamental human rights. He may be aware that a case was brought to the Court of Justice of the European Union, CJEU, back in 2022 by the Human Rights League in Belgium challenging the PNR directive that had been brought in by the EU. The CJEU upheld the PNR directive.”
“I disagree with Deputy Carthy on this. I think the strength of Ireland derives from the fact that we recognise that in order to have strength and influence in this world, one really needs to be part of a multilateral arrangement. That is why Ireland's membership of the EU makes us strong. I do not believe that by becoming a member of the EU, Ireland has in some way reduced its sovereignty. In fact, I think that our sovereignty is as strong as ever but we certainly have increased our influence. We have seen a very recent example on this island and the island beside us, where people decided that they wanted to leave the EU because they thought they would be able to exercise greater sovereignty and greater control over their own affairs. That did not happen.”
“Today we are voting on whether we wish to approve the conclusion of that negotiation and then subsequently the signing of the agreement between the EU and the Swiss Confederation. There have been at least six debates in the Houses of the Oireachtas in respect of this ultimate agreement between the EU and the Swiss Confederation. As I mentioned earlier, the EU has entered into PNR agreements with other non-EU countries and, in respect of each or most of them, there has been similar democratic underpinning within Ireland's Houses of the Oireachtas so I think that is very clear evidence that the elected representatives of the Irish people have had a very significant say and vote in respect of each of these stages of these agreements. I listened to what Deputy Carthy had to say on the ceding of sovereignty.”
“I thank Deputies Carthy and Gannon for their contributions. Deputy Carthy raised several issues in respect of Ireland's sovereignty. The fact these issues are being debated in this House, and subsequently will be debated and voted on in the Seanad, indicates Irish democracy is very much at the heart of the consideration of these proposals. There have been three parts to the PNR agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation. First of all, there was a vote by both Houses of the Oireachtas back in 2024 in terms of determining whether we would enter into negotiations between the EU and the Swiss Confederation. Both Houses voted on that and both Houses agreed that we wanted to opt in to the negotiation.”
“We have already opted in under Protocol 21, as colleagues will be aware, to similar PNR agreements with non-EU countries such as Iceland, Norway, Canada, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. In operational and policy terms, it is considered desirable that Ireland exercise an Article 3 opt-in to these proposals so we can participate in the agreed exchange of PNR data when the agreement has been concluded. That would not be available to us if we proceeded with the option of opting in under Article 4, which is an option that can arise after the agreements are concluded by the EU and the Swiss Confederation. I commend these proposals to the House and seek the approval of the motions for the signing and conclusion of the agreement concerned.”
“It includes such information as names, dates of travel and travel itineraries. It is true that at present we do not have the same ability for people travelling by ferry, but that is being worked on in the European Union. The collection and analysis of PNR data can provide the authorities with important elements, allowing them to detect suspicious travel patterns and identify associates of criminals and terrorists, particularly those previously unknown to law enforcement authorities. The use of PNR data is governed by the PNR directive, which was transposed into national law via the European Union (Passenger Name Record Data) Regulations 2018. The Irish passenger information unit in my Department is the body responsible for processing PNR data in Ireland.”
“The negotiated agreement has two main aims and components, one relating to the necessity of ensuring public security by means of exchanging PNR data with the Swiss Confederation, and the other relating to the protection of privacy and other fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals. It also includes a joint declaration between the EU and the Swiss Confederation, which will promote mutual co-operation and exchanges of best practice and developments in the field of PNR data between the parties. The collection and analysis of PNR data is a widely used law enforcement tool in the EU and other countries for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime. PNR data is the booking information provided by passengers and collected by air carriers for commercial purposes.”
“Their publication by the Commission on the 13 November 2025 triggered a three-month window for Ireland to exercise its opt-in option under Article 3 of Protocol 21, as I mentioned. Deputies may recall that Ireland opted in to the negotiation of this agreement in February 2024. This process of coming before Dáil and Seanad Éireann for the purpose of getting approval for the negotiation, conclusion and signing of the agreement between the European Union and Swiss Confederation signifies the extent to which there is democratic input into decisions proposed by the European Commission that need the approval of the Houses of the Oireachtas.”
“As the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach identified in his introductory comments, I am seeking the approval of the Dáil to opt in to two European Commission proposals. I am seeking the approval of the Dáil to opt in under Article 3 of Protocol 21 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union. The first proposal is for a Council decision authorising the conclusion of an agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation on the transfer of PNR data. The second proposal for which I am seeking the approval of the Dáil to opt in to is in respect of a decision authorising the signing of an agreement between the EU and the Swiss Confederation on the transfer of PNR data. The reason we are here seeking to opt in is that the proposed Council decisions have a Title V legal basis in the area of police co-operation.”
“I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation on the transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 11th December, 2025.”
“I have to say to the Deputy that if we could achieve that and get them banned on public roads and in public parks, that meets the cry from the Lynch family in terms of what they want. It meets the demands of what this House wants as well.”
“There is an urgency and real pressure on Government to do that, as there should be, and ensure those regulations are signed promptly. In terms of how the Deputy talks about regulating it, in many respects, it is not dissimilar from the discussion about nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide can be used for legitimate purposes. It can be bought for legitimate purposes. Similarly, scramblers can be used for legitimate sporting purposes. If we are going to introduce a system of regulating the sale of them, we will have to set out a mechanism as to what will be required in order for someone to be able to purchase them and where they can be used. We will still have the issue that will need regulations to be put in place so that they are banned on public roads and in public parks.”
“However, I can tell the Deputy having been at Cabinet this morning and having listened to the Taoiseach, there is a real commitment to ensuring this is done urgently. These are regulations that are being prepared in the Department of Transport. They will be signed by the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, who has delegated responsibility for road safety. There is a real urgency coming from the top of Government, from the Taoiseach, and all of us, to ensure that is done as quickly as possible. I cannot give the Deputy a timeline but the advantage of having the legislation in place is that all we require is for the regulations to be drafted, sent to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel and the Attorney General's office, stamped and signed.”
“I thank the Deputy. The Government and everyone in this House is committed to banning them on public roads, in public parks and in public places. That has to be done. The Deputy asked me for a timeline. I am not supposed to reveal what is discussed at Cabinet.”
“Obviously, nobody in this House wants to see gardaí not pursuing people who are engaged in criminal activity but as the Deputy will appreciate, if the gardaí are pursuing somebody on a scrambler bike going through a residential area at speed, there has to be some discretion on the part of gardaí to be able to think if this is creating a more dangerous environment for the community. It requires a certain amount of thinking on their feet and discretion by gardaí. The policy is that they can pursue.”
“This legislation also creates powers to restrict the use of specified vehicles or classes of vehicles, which is now also being considered. It has always been an offence to drive scramblers dangerously. I can assure the House that gardaí have enforcement powers to stop and seize the vehicle where this is the case. Members can see they have seized vehicles. In terms of the pursuits policy that was introduced in 2024, it provides direction to gardaí who engage in pursuit tactics and pursuit management to reduce risk.”
“When you are going to regulate the sale of them, presumably people who want to use them for sporting purposes on tracks or up the mountains where it is permitted will be permitted to buy them. We just need to think of the consequences of that. That is why the immediate focus and immediate pressure should be on the commencement of regulations under section 35A. The legislation that was enacted back in 2023 introduced some additional amendments to strengthen our legislation in relation to the misuse of scramblers and other vehicles. First, as the Deputy knows, it extends the dangerous driving offence to cover all locations and not just public places. Second, it gives gardaí the power to seize a vehicle being driven dangerously in any location.”
“People would put them on a trailer on the back of their car and bring them to the location. That is where they would use them. They were never intended for use on our public road system. In fact, it is an abuse of the system that people have been using them but this change, by putting in regulations pursuant to section 35A, will change circumstances. The Deputy said we should go further and regulate it. The Deputy talks about regulating their sale. I have no doubt the Government will give consideration to that but the Deputy knows himself that when it comes to something like that, we will need legislation in place for regulation. That takes time. That takes consideration.”
“There is now clearly widespread, universal support in this House for regulations to be made that will restrict and prohibit the use of scrambler bikes in public places and public parks. That is a priority. The reason why I think that is something there is political consensus to do is because it can be done so immediately. Section 35A has been enacted. The regulations being prepared by the Minister for Transport are in an advanced stage of preparation. We now need to just do it and put in place regulations that will prohibit and restrict the use of scramblers on public roads, in public parks and public places. I agree with the Deputy. There used to be a form of sport where you would see scramblers on television going around a track or they would be in a certain area out in the countryside.”
“I thank the Deputy. I was humbled and in awe as well at the strength of Siobhán Lynch in what she said, having gone through such a traumatic event in her life. The Taoiseach said today that there is nothing we can really say that will alleviate the pain she and her husband, Martin, are going through. I received an email this afternoon from Grace's aunt, Rachel, who raised a number of issues with me. There is a change because there is complete determination and agreement across the House that the provisions within section 35A need to be invoked and regulations need to be made. The Taoiseach was straightforward here today when he said that probably should have been done earlier.”
“If, however, there are support groups in place that can provide relief and support to individuals who are suffering drug-related intimidation, that can strengthen them. The Garda take this matter extremely seriously as well, as the Deputy knows. Anyone who is subjected to drug-related intimidation should report it to the Garda. The Garda will deal with it sensitively. The alternative is we just allow the law of wild west to operate, and that is not acceptable.”
“We had a discussion about this today at the justice committee and the Deputy will be aware how I mentioned that it was only last May that the DRIVE project had been launched. I know we had a discussion as to whether €280,000 was sufficient. It is the start. I want to see more money going into it and there is an ask for more money in respect of it. I am very conscious of the impact that drug-related intimidation and violence has on communities. It is important that those communities know they have the support of the State in combating that level of intimidation. If people believe they are on their own and they have no one to turn to, that is a very lonely place for them to be.”
“There are other sources of funding available. I am happy to engage with the Deputy in putting the national community office in touch with Whitechurch. If it is a commendable project, which I believe it is, it can apply for other sources. There is no guarantee that if a project gets funding under the community safety fund one year that it will get it the next year.”
“It is also made clear that repeat funding of community safety-funded projects would not be considered. As part of the process, applicants are asked to outline the sustainability of their project and the potential to mainstream or scale up the project beyond the community safety fund once the short-term funding has ended. However, I am very conscious of the very important and valuable support provided by the Whitechurch addition support programme. This programme clearly delivers crucial support in the community and I would suggest the sponsors contact the national office for community safety - I can give the Deputy the details - for advice on other funding streams that could be explored. In October, I announced the allocation of €4.4 million through the community safety fund to 42 new community safety projects nationwide.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question in respect of the Whitechurch addiction support programme. As the Deputy will be aware, there is funding available under the community safety fund. I think I spoke to him about it before in the justice committee. It is funding that is available to go back into local communities, particularly those that have affected by criminality, and is the proceeds of crime. Since it was launched in 2022, it has supported 127 community safety projects all across Ireland. The fund is now managed by the national office for community safety in my Department that was established last year. From the outset, the fund has been dedicated to one-off initiatives or short-to-medium-term projects limited to two years. Documentation made available for potential applicants to the safety fund in 2025 reiterated this.”
“We will seek to bring in that extra technology but there is ultimately a big responsibility on people to slow down. It is people's recklessness and carelessness on the road that are causing these fatalities and they need to change behaviour.”
“I agree the Garda should use advanced technology in every sphere of its work. In other aspects of criminality, technology is used to a great extent. Similarly, the Garda should be using technology. There is a very large contract in place between An Garda Síochána and GoSafe, which provides the services for the safety cameras on our roads. The more cameras that are there and the more effective they are, the safer our roads will become. What changes human behaviour on the roads is the prospect of being detected, whether through a Garda checkpoint or penalty points coming. I agree with the Deputy. I will look into the type of technology he has identified that is operating in the UK. An Garda Síochána is aware of other technologies that are available as well.”
“I have some statistics for the period 1 January to 14 January 2026. I am advised gardaí performed a total of 3,599 checkpoints between those dates. There were 37 arrests made under sections 4 and 5 of the Road Traffic Act or for failure or refusal to provide a roadside breath or fluid test. Many gardaí are assigned to road policing units and they take it extremely seriously. The statistics I have provided show clearly there is a large amount of policing of roads ongoing. The problem is people continue to break the law and do foolish things such as using mobile phones or drink-driving. Garda enforcement is an important part of the solution but the message needs to get out to people that such behaviour on the roads contributes to and causes increased fatalities.”
“The use of improved technology, additional speed cameras and enhanced data sharing are also helping to ensure a broader approach to road safety enforcement in Ireland.”
“Nearly 26,500 drivers were detected for speeding offences by gardaí, mobile safety camera vans and static safety cameras by An Garda's road safety partners, GoSafe. Gardaí seized nearly 3,000 vehicles for a range of offences under the Road Traffic Act 1961. Nearly 1,700 fixed charge notices were issued for the offence of using a mobile phone while driving and over 450 fixed charge notices were issued to vehicle users for not wearing seatbelts. These figures give an indication of the extent of ongoing enforcement activities by An Garda to keep people on our roads safe; and the reality that significant numbers of road users are, regrettably, still prepared to take risks with their own safety and the safety of other road users. It is important to emphasise that checkpoints and enforcement can only be part of the solution.”
“The most recent information I have on the dedicated road traffic enforcement operation carried out by the Garda is for the period from Monday, 1 December 2025, to Monday, 5 January 2026. That is a period of 35 days. During this period, regrettably, there were 26 fatalities on our roads and over 70 serious collisions, which resulted in a number of people incurring serious and life-altering injuries. There was no shortage of gardaí deployed during the operation. Gardaí carried out nearly 10,000 checkpoints, comprising statutory mandatory intoxicant testing and regular, high-visibility policing checkpoints. A total of 765 people were arrested during this period for driving under the influence of an intoxicant - 56% of those were primarily alcohol-intoxicant and 44% were primarily drugs.”
“When the regulations are signed by the Minister for Transport, they will send a clear message and show scramblers simply cannot be used on public paths, in public parks or in public areas. It is my hope it will provide for that.”
“My own view is the death of Grace Lynch is a watershed moment. Sometimes those events happen and, I regret to say, her death could be a watershed in the change of attitude of policymakers, legislators and the public to scramblers. I hear what Deputy Ó Muiri said about e-scooters. They are a separate issue but the presence of scramblers on public roads, in parks and on public pathways is unacceptable. They should not be used there. They are a threat to people, not just because they are being driven dangerously but because they were never designed for use on public roads. The law exists. We do not have to go through the Houses of the Oireachtas making new laws. The laws are there.”
“The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Canney, has committed to ensuring that there is a prohibition on the use of scramblers on public roads and in public parks. Scramblers should be used on designated tracks for scrambling bikes - we used to see them on the television years ago - or on pathways up the mountains. They are not for use on public roads. I know we will still have the same issue in respect of enforcement. It will be easier and there will be a societal response if there is a law saying that scramblers cannot be used on public roads.”
“I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I commend Deputy McAuliffe on the role he played in enacting the amendment to the Road Traffic Act back in 2023. A significant legislative change was achieved as a result of that. Today when we all reflect on the awful death of Grace, we may think that not enough was done in respect of that legislation; a lot was done in that legislation. Most importantly, within it, the amendment of section 35 of the Road Traffic Act brought in by that legislation allows for the Minister for Transport to restrict or prohibit the use of specified vehicles in certain areas. Deputies will have heard the Taoiseach speaking in the House this afternoon. There is a commitment from Government that that amendment of section 35 will be invoked and I think it should be.”
“I can report, however, that there were 958 fixed-charge notices issued for e-scooter-related offences in 2025 and that there were 817 e-scooters seized or detained in 2025. Garda authorities also advise that, further to the proof of concept, gardaí are in favour of the organisation having wider access to such technology and that gardaí operating checkpoints using the dynamometers reported high levels of public interest and engagement. People were curious and I understand that Garda management is currently assessing options regarding the purchase and allocation of dynamometers to roads policing units.”
“Additionally, the Road Traffic Act makes dangerous driving an offence in all locations, not just on public roads, and provides the Garda with new powers of seizure. The Garda has undertaken a proof-of-concept project for the introduction of mobile dynamometers for the purpose of enforcing these e-scooter regulations. They were distributed across the four Garda regions. Dedicated targeted operations took place with a particular focus on urban areas and larger towns. I am informed by the Garda that the evaluation period has now been concluded following the use of the four dynamometer devices nationally. I am informed that the number of tests undertaken did not form part of the evaluation.”
“The Deputy has raised the issues of e-scooters and scramblers before. Deputy McAuliffe, who has consistently raised the issue of scramblers, is seated beside Deputy Ó Muirí. I take this opportunity to express my condolences to Grace Lynch's parents, Siobhán and Martin, on her horrific death last weekend. Obviously, I am not going to talk in too much detail about it because I am conscious that a man was charged this evening with a criminal offence. On the matter raised by the Deputy, he will be aware that regulations were signed into law in 2024 by the then Minister for Transport to provide that an e-scooter can only have a maximum design speed of 20 km/h or less. An e-scooter which does not meet the technical requirements may not legally be used on public roads.”