Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman and I welcome the delegations.

The presentations have been very informative and quite emotional for those who have had recent transplants. Deputy Ó Caoláin was due to be the lead Sinn Féin speaker today, but he had to go to the Dáil for Leaders' Questions. He was anxious to hear the witnesses' contributions this morning and he understands how compelling their cases are.

I support the opt-out position. Family discussion on the issue is key to any successful scheme. It is important that people who are in favour of donating their organs tell their next of kin so that if there is a tragic accident it reduces the burden on the family to make the decision to donate the organ. I would also like to see specialist transplant co-ordinators trained in grief counselling based in every hospital trauma unit. When this model was introduced in Spain it led to a large increase in the number of families consenting to donate the organs of a loved one. It is important that we consider introducing a system to maximise the number of organs available.

I accept it is important to have a national organ-donor register. Ongoing public awareness and education are very important to promote donor awareness. What types of campaign do the witnesses plan to hold? Do they plan to go into schools? Sometimes there is a problem with lack of awareness. If schoolchildren grow up with it, it becomes second nature for the next generation. I found the witnesses' arguments based on their real live experience very compelling.