John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion and thank Deputy Tom Fleming for tabling it on behalf of the Independent Group. I discussed organ donation with the Minister for Health several weeks ago and I am delighted not only that the Government is supporting this motion but also that the Minister has indicated his intention to bring forward legislation to address the issues raised.

I was glad to be able to facilitate the visit of a cross-party delegation of Deputies and Senators to Croke Park. We were invited to Croke Park by the ard stiúrthóir of the GAA, Páraic Duffy, in order to meet Joe Brolly, who is leading an all-island campaign to introduce an opt-out system. Having listened to Dr. David Hickey, Professor Jim Egan and other eminent experts in organ transplantation, I suggest that we cannot afford not to introduce such as system. Evidence from other countries shows that we need to put an infrastructure in place and develop a public awareness campaign.

It is not often one hears a Mayo man praising Joe Brolly but he has led by example on this issue and I commend the GAA for supporting him. The GAA could be a vehicle for persuading Irish people to support the legislation the Government will be introducing in the near future.

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