Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I move:

That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to regulate and licence the sale of nitrous oxide to exempted purchasers, to prohibit the sale of nitrous oxide and nitrous oxide products to a person who has not attained the age of 18 years, and to provide for related matters.

I thank the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers for its assistance in preparing the Sale of Nitrous Oxide and Related Products Bill 2024, which I am introducing today with my colleague, Deputy Crowe. You only have to walk down any street or through any park in Dublin to see discarded nitrous oxide canisters. When I first noticed them in my area, they were small silver canisters, known locally as "silver bullets". However, over time they have changed to large industrial-sized canisters, known as FastGas, and it is marketed as that. The canisters are being sold on the street by unscrupulous drug dealers who are making vast profits from their sale. The manufacturers are also making vast profits. They are tailoring their marketing towards children.

A recent report published by the HSE's adolescent addiction service has shown that 22% of young people presenting at its services for help have admitted to taking nitrous oxide. This is an increase of 175% in a year, but that only captures the young people who are presenting and looking for help; it does not capture the ones who have not got to that stage yet. The widespread use of nitrous oxide is resulting in antisocial behaviour, litter and damage to people's health. Young people are playing Russian roulette when they use this gas. Inhaling nitrous oxide cuts off oxygen to the brain, resulting in light-headed and giddy effects. That is what gives it the name "laughing gas", but laughing gas is no laughing matter.

A neurology specialist at the Mater hospital has warned of an increase in the number of patients suffering severe nerve damage after inhaling nitrous oxide gas. The specialist reported that the gas causes a range of sensory issues including numbness in hands, feet and extremities, serious issues with balance, problems with heart rate, and mental health issues. In that regard, I welcome students from Deansrath Community College to the Public Gallery. They have done significant work in breaking the stigma on mental health in my area. They are very welcome. Earlier this year we saw reports of an increase in young people presenting for help after getting frostbite from using nitrous oxide. Scarring is also a significant issue. Some patients presented with burns around the lips and fingertips, which can take months to resolve.

There is also an environmental impact, as several incinerators across Europe suffered major damage when canisters exploded in their furnaces.

I have introduced this legislation to regulate the sale of nitrous oxide to commercial use only. This is similar to legislation introduced in Holland, where the authorities are regulating the use of nitrous oxide outside the use of medical and catering industries. Importantly, the Bill will not criminalise the young person for possession of nitrous oxide but it will give An Garda Síochána the right to confiscate the canisters. The Bill will enable members of An Garda Síochána to seize nitrous oxide products from those without appropriate licences.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Even though nitrous oxide ranks among the top three drugs used by young people, it garners very little attention by the media or policy-makers. We have all seen with our own eyes the evidence of its growing use. I gave the canisters the name "silver bullets" because children are playing Russian roulette with this gas. The use of the gas has led to death and serious long-term harm to people who have used it to achieve a quick high. It is predominantly very young people who use it as it is cheap and easily accessible. I had previously put forward a Bill banning the sale of nitrous oxide to under-18s and I was astonished that the Government was wholly uninterested in achieving that goal. The Minister, Deputy O’Gorman even wrote to me last year to tell me that, in his view, the current legislation was working fine and that my Bill was somehow unnecessary.

Nitrous oxide is not a harmless substance. Prolonged use can have extremely damaging effects on the body. These include disorientation, impaired memory and cognition, and weakness in the legs. This worsens as the body is leached of vitamin B12 and can lead to permanent afflictions like foot drop as the nervous system is eroded over time. There are a lot of parents out there who do not really understand. They have seen these huge canisters; the ones they are using at the moment are the size of thermos flasks. Some policy-makers are even talking about giving balloons out to young people now to try to use it. There have been direct fatalities, even in my own constituency. Nitrous oxide is not safe. That is the message we want to send out today. We hope the legislation will deal with this. We need to wake up. It is happening in our communities to young people. That is what I am scared of. It is a gateway drug. I hate using that expression but it is. Young people are using it continuously. If you go on holidays to Spain, it is available in bars and restaurants. Unfortunately, as we can see in our parks and on our footpaths, it is available everywhere here.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the Bill opposed?

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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No.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."