Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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924. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has received briefings as to the use of nitrous oxide canisters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15133/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am informed that An Garda Síochána is aware of the potential health issues that arise as a consequence of the misuse of nitrous oxide. However, at present, nitrous oxide is not a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Acts and is therefore outside my remit as Minister for Justice and Equality.

Requests for information in relation to the misuse of nitrous oxide should therefore be directed to the Department of Health, the HSE and the Health Products Regulatory Authority, which I understand has previously issued advisories on the misuse of this substance.

I can, however, confirm to the Deputy that the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) interacts with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and other relevant stakeholders, including the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), where it observes particular trends in drug use that may require intervention on the part of the Department of Health or other relevant Department and/or State agency. This is in line with the National Drug and Alcohol Strategy which includes actions to strengthen the response to the illegal drugs market by developing systems to monitor changing drug trends in line with the EU Early Warning System (3.3.38a) and to complete the development of the HSE public alert system for adverse events due to drugs (3.3.38b).

In this regard, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the GNDOCB has communicated with the relevant bodies relating to its experience relating to the possession and use by particular persons of nitrous oxide.