Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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794. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the ability he has to prevent the online sale of solvents to children in cases where it is clear from customer comments on the website that the solvents are being inhaled by customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21454/20]

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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795. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the powers he has to prevent the online sale of solvents to children in cases in which it is clear from customer comments on the website that the solvents are being inhaled by customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21457/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 794 and 795 together.

Under section 74 of the Child Care Act 1991 it is an offence for a person to sell, offer or make available a substance to a person under the age of eighteen years if he knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the substance or its fumes are likely to be inhaled by the child for the purpose of causing intoxication. A person who is guilty of this offence is liable on summary conviction to a class C fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both. In the case of conviction the court can then order the substance in question to be forfeited and destroyed (or otherwise dealt with in such manner as the court thinks fit).

In addition, section 74 empowers members of An Garda Síochána to seize any substance in the possession of a child in a public place that they have reasonable cause to believe is being inhaled by that child in a manner likely to cause intoxication.