Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for appearing before the committee. I apologise for being late for the meeting but I had another appointment. I have huge admiration for people such as Mr. Brolly - and the example he has set is second to none - who give of themselves to those in desperate need. I am in favour of what is collectively sought, which is the soft opt-out option. Prior to the meeting today I did a quick run around of my husband's brothers and sisters and my own to see how many of us had organ donor cards, how many of us did not and the reasons for this. Just under 40% of our family members have organ donor cards, which is good, and I am one of them. I cannot take the credit for going out and getting my organ donor card. The only reason I have it is that my husband brought home the form years ago. With regard to the members of our family who do not have an organ donor card, it is not because they do not want to carry one it is just that they have not got around to organising it. Life is busy. Taking this as a small yardstick, the vast majority of people in Ireland do not have exceptional reasons for not carrying an organ donor card, they just have not got around to it. Presumed consent is very worthwhile and it is incumbent on all of us to get behind it and ensure it happens and that we will not be speaking about it again in a number of years.

As this is not owned by anybody in the Department of Health or the HSE, I could not find a definitive answer on how much the ICT infrastructure would cost if we were to put it in place, how much the network co-ordinators in each hospital would cost and how we could fit it into the budgets. If it is not being measured it is certainly not being considered for future budgets. Do any of the witnesses' organisations have these figures so we can take them back and begin real substantive talks about how we can ensure it is included in budgets in the coming years?