The Justice Minister is “open” to raising the age limit for e-scooter use after the death of two teenagers in Waterford city.

Gilbert Collins (15) and Abuzwa Idris (17) lost their lives after a crash between an e-scooter and a bus in the early hours of Thursday morning.

New rules governing the use of the devices came into effect last month, including a minimum driver age of 16 and a speed limit of 20km/h.

'Devastating incident'

Minister Helen McEntee said her “heart goes out” to the families of the two teens who died this week.

“This is really a devastating incident to happen and for both young boys to lose their lives," she said.

“I can only imagine the devastation in that community overall.

“But it just shows the need for each and every one of us to be responsible when we're getting behind any type of vehicle or an electric scooter or motorised and powered scooter.”

Row of electric scooters for hire in London. Image: Pat Tuson / Alamy Stock Photo

The Justice Minister said the laws are “very clear” around e-scooter use.

“You have to be over 16, and you can’t have another person on it, you can’t have anything other than maybe a rucksack, and you can’t go over certain speeds,” she said.

“Our Gardaí are enforcing this, but I think everybody has to make sure that we take care when we’re driving any vehicle because they’re dangerous, and we can see from what’s happened the devastation that this can cause.”

Minimum age

Minister McEntee said she is open to further raising the minimum driver age for e-scooters.

“I'm open to anything that will keep young people safe here,” she said.

“But there are clear laws there, and if we need to do more, obviously we will.

“Gardaí will be supported in making sure that they enact these laws and that where people are driving dangerously, where young people just need to be protected here as well, that these vehicles are taken off the road.”

Gardai at the Templemore training college. Image: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Minister McEntee also said a review into An Garda Síochána members with convictions is currently ongoing.

“We have 92 people suspended at the moment, and over a quarter of those are because of cases of violence or domestic or sexual violence,” she said.

“Each case has to be taken on its own individual merits, the severity of it, and I do know there is a clear process where if a person is before the courts or convicted, they go directly into the system.”

Severity

The Justice Minister said the response to such crimes depends on the “severity of the incident or what the incident is”.

“Any type of domestic or sexual violence, abuse, coercive control within this organisation is not tolerated,” she said.

“It has not been tolerated and anything more that needs to be done, [Commissioner Drew Harris] will do, and I will work very closely with him and indeed all members of An Garda Síochána in that regard as well.”

Main image: Justice Minister Helen McEntee speaking at Government Buildings, 14-12-23. Image: Sam Boal / © RollingNews.ie