‘LAUGHING GAS’ IS NO LAUGHING MATTER - Mairead Tóibín, Aontú Dún Laoghaire

Discarded cans of Nitrous Oxide, commonly known as ‘laughing gas’ are a serious concern in parts of Dún Laoghaire and pose considerable threats to people’s safety.

That’s according to Aontú candidate for the constituency, Mairead Tóibín, who says she was shocked at the number of cans strewn along the ground of a housing estate, one of which was unopened.

She says

“While sadly it's no longer rare to see large, discarded canisters thrown around, I was genuinely concerned to see several large, discarded canisters along a path in a housing estate. One of the canisters was unopened, which is a real worry. The canisters were so close to houses”.

“There is no easy way to dispose of these, they are pressurised containers and may explode if crushed or thrown onto a bonfire, with potentially disastrous consequences”.

“Given we’re coming up to Halloween, it’s a more pressing issue”

“There is a real concern that another young person will die or be left with a serious injury following inhalation of Nitrous Oxide or 'laughing gas'. Despite its innocuous name, inhaling the gas from these canisters can force users to stop breathing. Every year users end up in hospital suffering injury while others may suffer hallucinations or paranoia following its use”.

“I am asking people to be vigilant over the next few weeks and to collect these if dumped and return to local Garda stations”.

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.