This is classic performative politics of the likes seen by now former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which just ends up annoying everybody. Comment & Analysis: The Department of the Taoiseach this afternoon issued what I can only describe as one of the most nonsensical Government statements. In reality, Taoiseach Michel Martin, Tnaiste Simon Harris, and other Government Ministers are dancing on the head of a pin around the fact that all promatic scooter use is already illegal and the level of enforcement is not up to scratch. Its also a big distraction from the Governments unwillingness to sufficiently regulate not just the sale of e-scooters but also bicycle-shaped mopeds and light motorcycles, and scramblers. Because it would be a departure from long-standing thinking that devices like scramblers cannot be regulated at the point of sale (see below).We were told that Taoiseach, Tnaiste and Minister [of State for road safety] Canney agreed on a series of proposals with Minister [for Justice] OCallaghan and the Garda Commissioner. The proposals will be brought to Government by Ministers [for Transport] OBrien and Canney next week.Lets look at what they said in their statement and how most of it does not make any sense the quotes below are from the statement followed by commentary and analysis about what is being said: The Garda Commissioner advised that there has been a significant increase in Garda operations connected to e-scooters, including that 1,412 e-scooters have been seized so far this year. There have been 793 prosecutions for possession of e-scooters this year.There definitely seems to be an uptick in enforcement, but its after years of a lack of enforcement, and even now it seems to pale in comparison to the number of illegal e-scooters on our roads. The meeting also discussed the initial data from Childrens Health Ireland and the HSE indicating a concerning pattern of serious and life-changing injuries caused by e-scooters.More than one-third of all paediatric traumatic brain injury admissions to CHI at Temple Street in 2026 were related to e-scooters. Admissions for traumatic brain injuries from e-scooter accidents increased by 50% in the last 12 months.While CHI estimates one to two children a day are presenting across EDs this summer with e-scooter injuries. A full report will be available at the end of July.Paediatric hospital care is for under-16s, and when medics were interviewed, they confirmed that the above relates mainly or exclusively to children under 16. Tnaiste Simon Harris also makes an impassioned to-camera piece on Instagram where he heavily relies on the injuries to under-16s and then talks about measures which do not relate to and will not address under-16s use of scooters.Why are so many of the measures being mentioned in the statement related to people 16 and over? Is this just performative?It was agreed that high-visibility jackets and helmets will be mandatory for all e-scooter useAnd if the health data relates to under-16s and e-scooter use is to be extended to over 18s, whats the rationale for making helmets and high-vis mandatory? They could not even be bothered to outline something along the lines of the poor position of the rear light on e-scooters, which would justify high-vis.and the ban will be extended to under-18s. This will take effect in August.At the age of 16, teenagers are able to hold a licence that enables them to drive tractors, AM Mopeds and Light quadricycles, and A1 Motorcycles the AM mopeds have a legal maximum design speed of 45 km/h, while the RSA describes a category A1 vehicle as one that is capable of a speed of at least 90 km/h. Just to be clear: Thats not the limit; its the minimum speed. Legal e-scooters have a hard max speed of 20km/h.This isnt a speed limit; its a device-based speed limiter, and if thats tampered with, the device is no longer legal. How does it make sense to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to drive powerful tractors with trailers and also allow them to ride mopeds and light motorcycles, but not legal e-scooters? Again: They are clearly dancing on a pin and engaging in a weird form of shadow boxing. They could not possibly have legal, 20km/h scooters in mind. This is more likely to protect older teenagers from what are already banned devices banning a set of people from already banned devices does not make any sense. The only logical conclusion here is that this is performative. Just as scramblers are still not being tackled enough, these new measures for scooters will likely also fail and end up annoying everybody. Later this year, legislation will be introduced to treat e-scooters as all other mechanically propelled vehicles, and there will be a requirement for licensing and registration.The above approach would be understandable for more powerful e-scooters but these are already banned. So, the idea of licensing and registration for legal e-scooters that cannot go abover 20km/h and must not weigh over 25kg is nothing short of laughable. And thats before we ask what type of licence will be needed: AM and A1 licences are open to 16-year-olds, so will the government be starting a whole new licence type for e-scooters? This will also prohibit the sale of scooters to minorsProhibiting the sale without also prohibiting the supply of e-scooters to minors seems fairly pointless when its often their parents or other adults buying the devices for them. and the sale of scooters that do not meet the legal requirements for use on public roads. [bolding added]This issue is key to reducing the illegal use of overpowered e-scooters, electric bicycle-shaped objects which are classed as mopeds, and unregistered scramblers no matter how they are fueled. But mention of for use on public roads is a huge get-out clause. We need an import and sale ban on these devices, commonly used illegally on our roads, streets and parks. People who have a legitimate off-road use should have to prove it at the point of import or sale.Such a permit system, which could include providing proof you have an off-road area where you have permission to use the devices, would be as easy or easier to set up as a new licensing system for the legal light 20km/h e-scooters. More importantly, an import and sale permit system for all three types of devices would be more impactful.Lets be honest, theres really almost no legitimate off-road use of e-scooters. There would be very little administrative burden from such a system.An outright ban will remain on the table.Of course, that has to be said; they wouldnt want to seem like they were backing down or anything.It was also agreed further protections will be provided to members of An Garda Sochna to mirror the system in the UK. This would grant greater legal protections to garda when pursuing e-scooters and e-bikes.Besides the weak restriction on sales, this is likely one of the most important parts of the statement, but its left as the last bit. Does that speak volumes that they want to distract from the fact that enforcement is the main issue? Most of the above as outlined in the statement are poorly thought out and not evidence-based road safety. Its safety theatre with a sprinkling of measures that might be somewhat helpful, but that only go halfway.