Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government envisages the introduction of an opt-out system of organ donation with a view to improving the availability of organs for patients in need of transplantation. The introduction of this opt-out system will mean that the consent of an individual to organ donation is deemed or presumed to have been given, unless he or she registered a wish not to become an organ donor his or her lifetime. However, even though consent will be presumed the family will in practice always be consulted prior to organ donation and if it objects the donation will not proceed. This is known as a soft opt-out system. The Department of Health plans to undertake public consultation on the practicalities of introducing a system of presumed consent. It is proposed that the consultation process will comprise an invitation for written submissions from the public followed by a workshop with key stakeholders.

The most significant issues to be addressed include the difficulty of ensuring the correct identity of individuals in the absence of a national unique health identifier.

Funding would be required to establish and maintain a robust and secure national information technology system to record a person's wish to opt out of organ donation. Funding would also be required for an ongoing advertising campaign to advise people of their right to opt out of the new system.

The new driving licence application form includes an option for applicants to tick a box if they would like a code to be included on their licence indicating their wish to become an organ donor. However, in keeping with the current legal position, it states that applicants' next of kin will be consulted in the event of any decision being taken on organ donation. Since the introduction of the new type of driving licence on 19 January 2013, some 115 people have indicated that they wish to become organ donors.

Last night, I met Dr. David Hickey, the director of the national transplant centre at Beaumont Hospital, Professor Jim Egan, the overall national director of organ procurement and transplantation, Mr. Philip Watt, the chief executive of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and chairperson of the national donor network, and Mr. Joe Brolly, an organ donor. I commend all of them on the work they have done to date.

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