The misuse of nitrous oxide is no longer a fringe issue. It is not something novel. It is happening in housing estates, parks and town centres, and at the back of parish halls all across the State, urban and rural. It is overwhelmingly impacting young people. This substance has legitimate uses in medicine and licensed food businesses and no one disputes that. What we are seeing now is widespread misuse, industrial sized canisters with no legitimate purpose, and a complete failure by Government to keep pace with what is actually happening on the ground. A dangerous drug is being sold online in bulk, trafficked into our communities and pushed on children for profit. Industrial cans of nitrous oxide are ending up in the hands of teenagers. Young people are being told this is harmless when doctors are now treating nerve damage, frostbite and long-term neurological harm. Communities once again are left dealing with the damage. Gardaí are left without clear powers and without a steer. The Government is sitting, once again, on its hands. This Bill shuts down that trade, protects children and gives gardaí the tools they need. The question is whether the Government is prepared to act. The Minister's amendment suggests it is not; it is happy to wait another nine months. The medical evidence is now stark. Consultant neurologists have warned of a clear rise in nerve damage linked directly to nitrous oxide misuse. Young people are presenting with numbness in their hands and feet, balance problems, heart rhythm issues and serious mental health effects. Tallaght hospital has reported multiple neurological diagnoses following inhalation of this gas. The HSE's adolescent addiction service reported that 22% of young people attending the service admitted to using nitrous oxide. That is a startling figure in anybody's language, that so many children are disclosing that as part of their treatment. Those are the children who can avail of that treatment, who are in services, who are connected with the HSE. There are serious public safety implications, too. Driving ability can be impaired, as was stated earlier. This is why this legislation matters. The Bill introduces licensing for wholesalers and a register for retailers. It bans sales to and by under-18s, tightens online sales and, crucially, gives gardaí clear powers to seize and dispose of products that are being misused. I want to acknowledge the work of my colleague, Deputy Mark Ward, who has been raising this issue for years and has shown leadership where Government has not in bringing this Bill before the Dáil. Do not wait nine months to take action. We do not need to wait for other EU member states. If we were to wait for EU member states at every juncture, there would be nothing done. That strikes me as the attitude of this Government to any issue that arises in working-class and rural communities. I am calling on the Minister to support the Bill, to withdraw his amendment and to finally act to protect children, public health and community safety. I urge him to do the right thing here, withdraw his amendment and support this common-sense piece of legislation.

Sentiment score: -0.06