DUBLIN TD MARIE Sherlock has called for a temporary, six-week ban on e-scooters in order to get the “right regulatory systems in place”.

Speaking in the Dáil this afternoon, Tánaiste Simon Harris said that he would keep an “open mind” on an outright ban on e-scooters.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said earlier this week that he is “leaning towards” a complete ban on -e-scooters, and Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has said he would “absolutely” support a ban.

Sherlock however has criticised what she claims is a “gross lack of urgency on tackling the rising problem of e-scooter injuries”.

This comes as new report by Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) revealed there has been a 50% annual increase in the number of children and young people being admitted to hospital with traumatic brain injuries because of e-scooter crashes.

The CHI research also revealed that one to two e-scooter related injuries are presenting to ED every day.

The Labour TD said that comments from Harris in the Dáil today, and by Martin and Kelly on favouring an outright ban, were a “cop out”.

Sherlock said that in order to get the right regulatory system in place to ensure there are special powers of pursuit, and to ensure that there is an outright ban on e-scooter sales to under 16s, that a temporary ban for the next six-weeks “needs to be considered”.

During an exchange today in the Dáil with Harris, Sherlock said it is “unconscionable” that the Dáil will take a break over the summer “knowing teenagers are going to be injured every day over the next eight weeks”.

She said there is a need to implement a six-week ban on e-scooters to give government and the gardaí “time to catch up on the gaps in legislation and enforcement so that we have a functioning safe system in place come the Autumn”.

While Sherlock said that e-scooters are a “legitimate form of transport” for adults when used in the right way, she added: “We know that in many of the communities that I represent in Dublin Central they are often time used with impunity and as a tool for intimidation.”

She acknowledged that gardaí locally have been doing “good work with regard to confiscation” but added that the “reality is that their hands are tied with regard to pursuit.

Sherlock said that the “apparent indifference” of the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan and “inaction” of the Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien “must not continue”.

The Labour deputy said that communities have been “crying out for a comprehensive strategy to deal with this problem for years” and that the government response has been “half-hearted and slow”.

“The Tánaiste has said he will meet the Taoiseach next week on these issues,” said Sherlock.

“There is a big weight of expectation of them to act; children’s lives depend on it.”