Conor D McGuinness urges immediate action on nitrous oxide
Conor D McGuinness warned about widespread nitrous oxide misuse and urged the minister and government to support a bill to curb supply and protect young people. He criticised an amendment that would delay action by nine months and said the government has failed to keep pace with what is happening on the ground.
Main demand
He called on the minister to withdraw the amendment and support the bill that he said will shut down the trade, protect children and give Gardaí the tools they need to tackle misuse.
Scale and locations of misuse
He said misuse is no longer a fringe issue, occurring in housing estates, parks, town centres and behind parish halls across the state, in both urban and rural areas, and overwhelmingly impacting young people. He warned that industrial-sized canisters are being sold online in bulk, trafficked into communities and pushed on children for profit.
Medical evidence and youth impact
He cited consultant neurologists reporting a clear rise in nerve damage linked to nitrous oxide misuse - numbness in hands and feet, balance problems, heart rhythm issues and serious mental health effects. He referenced Tala Hospital reporting multiple neurological diagnoses after inhalation and the HSC's Adolescent Addiction Service finding that 22% of young people attending the service admitted to using nitrous oxide.
Legal and enforcement measures in the bill
He outlined the bill's provisions - licensing for wholesalers, a register for retailers, a ban on sales to under-18s, tighter controls on online sales and clear powers for Gardaí to seize and dispose of products being misused. He said those powers are essential because Gardaí currently lack clear powers and direction to deal with the problem.
Political appeal and timeline
He acknowledged his colleague Deputy Mark Ward for raising the issue and bringing the bill before the Dáil and urged the minister not to wait for other EU member states or nine months of delay. He framed the delay as leaving communities to deal with the damage and appealed for the amendment to be withdrawn so the legislation can be enacted.
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The misuse of nitrous oxide is no longer a fringe issue. It's not something novel and new. It's happening in housing estates and parks and town centres at the back of parish halls all across the state, urban and rural. And it's overwhelmingly impacting young people. And this substance has legitimate uses of medicine and licensed food businesses, and no one disputes that. But what we're 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 minister 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. And communities once again are left dealing with the damage. Gardaí are left without clear powers, without a steer, and 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. And your amendment suggests that you're not. You're 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. Tala Hospital has reported multiple neurological diagnoses following inhalation of this gas. The HSC's Adolescent Addiction Service has reported that 22% of young people attending the service admitted to using nitrous oxide. I mean, that is a startling figure in anybody's language, that that many children are disclosing that as part of their treatment. And those are the children that can avail of that treatment, that are in services, that are connected with the HSC. There are serious public safety implications too. Driving ability can be appeared, as has been remarked earlier. And this is why this legislation matters, Minister. The bill introduces licensing for wholesalers, a register for retailers, band sales to and buy under 18s, tightens online sales, and gives Gardaí crucially 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, who has shown leadership when government hasn't, and has brought this bill before the Dáil. Don't wait nine months, Minister, to take action. We don't need to wait for other EU member states. If we were to follow and wait for EU member states at every juncture, there'd be nothing done. And that strikes me as maybe the attitude of this government to any issue that arises in working class and rural communities. I'm calling on you to support the bill, to withdraw your motion, to finally act to protect children and public health and community safety. And do the right thing, Minister. Do the right thing here. Withdraw your amendment and support this common-sense piece of legislation. Thank you.
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