Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate and commend Deputy Tom Fleming on introducing this reasonable and logical motion. I also commend the Joint Committee on Health and Children on the cross-party approach it has taken to this sensitive issue. When I attended a meeting of the committee last week I was delighted to hear contributions from live donors and people working in the area of organ transplantation. Joe Brolly is a high profile donor but many people around the country have donated organs to siblings and people close to them.

I come from an organ donor family. I tragically lost a sister 23 years ago. At the aforementioned committee meeting I spoke publicly for the first time about my late sister, Ita, who died at the age of 22. My family had to make a tough decision about whether she would donate. I was happy that we decided she would because her tragic loss has resulted in life changing events for two families. A young man her own age and an older man received her kidneys and it changed their lives forever. I am happy to report that my family built a long-lasting relationship with these individuals, who have now become family friends. We have found a sense of fulfilment from our tragedy by offering new lives to others.

I welcome that the Government is supporting the motion. It is important that we appoint co-ordinators for donations in all acute hospitals in this country. At the very least we must establish a donor registry, which is best achieved by means of the soft opt-out option. However, we must also listen to the concerns that have been expressed about such a system. We have an opportunity to work together to provide adequate resources and offer a life changing solution for those who need it.

See this speech in context