Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank and pay tribute to Deputy Tom Fleming for bringing forward this motion. It is an example of what can be achieved in Private Members' time, when motions that really mean something to many people in their lives can be agreed, rather than have some of the political posturing that happens, week in, week out. I compliment Deputy Fleming on what is a very mature motion.

I wish to pay tribute to three people who came to the Dáil last week at my invitation, as Deputy Buttimer noted. The Acting Chairman will be familiar with them: Mr. Michael Kiely, Ms Noreen O'Halloran and Ms Annette Beston. They came to tell the human side of the stories of a person who received a kidney from his sister and another who received one from an anonymous donor. They spoke of the life-changing experiences those people underwent, both donors and recipients, as well as the persons on the waiting lists. In Ms O'Halloran's case this was her father who undergoes dialysis in a hospital in Cork.

One thing I learned last night at the presentation organised in Croke Park, in conjunction with the GAA and Joe Brolly, is that although there have been almost static numbers of those who donate organs and those who are suitable for transplantation the reality in this country is that rates for procedures such as dialysis are growing exponentially and at a frightening rate. Some aspects we need to address, which are relatively urgent, are to have a national register that makes it easy for people to register, regardless of the opt-in or soft opt-in options, and to have co-ordinators. We must ask ourselves why it is that some small hospitals, such as the one in Bantry, have a great track record in encouraging families at a very vulnerable time in their lives to donate organs. We must ask why this is not the case in the larger and more acute hospitals. There is an interesting piece of work that needs to be done regarding co-ordinators.

I was also struck last night in Croke Park by comments made by those people who ultimately hold people's lives in their hands concerning the standards required and the facilities that are available for the carrying out of organ transplants in Beaumont Hospital. There is no doubt that throughout the great days of the Celtic tiger we left a very poor national infrastructure in place in terms of the facilities that are needed for organ transplant and organ donation.

I compliment Deputy Fleming for introducing the motion. I have invited Members to join an informal all-party working or discussion group on how this can be advanced, outside the hustle and bustle of the health committee. I pay tribute to Deputy Jerry Buttimer for the work he is doing in the committee. I encourage Members to engage in this process because, politics aside, this is something by which we, as Oireachtas Members, can make a real difference to people's lives. I compliment the motion and thank its proposer.

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