We all accept that nitrous oxide has legitimate uses in medicine, healthcare, veterinary and catering. This legislation ensures that those who legitimately want to sell, buy and use this are the only people who are allowed so that it no longer has the impact it is having on young people across the country. Deputy Ward is absolutely correct. The Government has known about this for a significant period of time. I do not think anyone has to go too far. I do not take the dog for a walk too often but over Christmas I did, with my wife, my youngest son and my niece. At that part of the Blackrock Road where it hits the Red Barns Road, I came across three of these. They are no longer the silver bullets; we are looking at these big industrial pieces. A couple of months ago, I was going in to work in my constituency office. I parked in the Ramparts, the Louth County Council car park. There must have been a major party there as there were eight or nine canisters. That is no big deal. We see them every day, every week, almost everywhere, in parks like the park in my own estate. I do not know how many times they have been posted on the neighbourhood watch Facebook page. They are everywhere. What has also been detailed is the absolute harm it is doing, including neurological harm, frostbite and burns, respiratory issues, nerve damage and right down to the mental health impact that we cannot even contemplate at this point. This is something we can move on today. There is still time for due diligence. The Minister could withdraw his amendment. We could let this go through. On Committee Stage, we could deal with whatever anomalies the Minister says are in this Bill. We could have something fit for purpose, like the Dutch have. I fear an awful lot of states will have something similar before this one does. The Minister and I have had many interactions on the fact that we have not got to grips with the impact drugs are having. Organised crime has a capacity and an ability and is making an absolute fortune out of this. Unfortunately, it is legal because we have not introduced the legislation. We heard recently from the Garda that there are 169 organised crime groups, with 65% involved in drugs. We need to get serious about the whole drugs issue and about nitrous oxide. The Minister can take action now. I commend Deputy Ward on doing a decent piece of work from Opposition. We would like to see the Government follow through and deliver for the young people out there.

Sentiment score: -0.03