Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to speak to the motion and thank Deputy Tom Fleming for tabling it. It is good the Government has agreed to accept it.

I have a personal interest in the issue of organ donation. I attended the meeting in Croke Park last night at which Joe Brolly stated that when the issue of organ transplantation impacts on us at a personal level, it heightens our awareness. One tends to go about one's business without considering the option of giving blood or carrying an organ donor card. However, when the issue hits close to home, one starts to think that it is necessary to carry a card, especially when one sees that transplants can save lives.

We heard poignant words in the audiovisual room last week when speakers addressed Members on kidney transplants. We learned there was a chronic shortage of kidneys in 2011 when only 165 kidney transplants were performed and between 250 and 300 transplants were needed.

What are the next steps? I understand the reason people do not like to discuss organ donation as it relates to what happens to the body after one's death.

The legislation, particularly if it encourages people to become donors, will change the thinking in respect of organ donation. This is very important, particularly as provision is made for people to opt out. If, for example, a person who is in hospital dies, the consent of his or her family or next of kin will still be required in order for his or her organs to be donated. Co-ordinators are crucial to the process and they have made a massive difference at Beaumont Hospital, where they talk to people and work with families to ensure kidney donations.

I spoke to a few doctors last evening and they indicated that what is really needed is a single transplant unit. This is because the infection which arises in respect of all transplants is the same. If all transplants were carried out under the one roof, it would be fantastic. In that context, reference was made to the conditions in the prefab units at Beaumont Hospital. Those who work in those conditions at that facility are doing tremendous work.

On public awareness, organ donation week took place some three weeks ago. I do not believe that too many people were aware of its passage. We need to put plans in place to get a message out during organ donation week. Perhaps the public broadcasting company, RTE, could do a programme on people who have undergone kidney transplants and the positive things that have happened to them, those who have become live donors and those who have undergone heart and lung transplants.

I am sure previous speakers referred to the model in Spain. In Northern Ireland, an all-party group involving politicians, clinicians and groups which are part of the transplant family have entered into discussions on this matter. In the South, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, CFI, and other organisations operate in this area. An important first step in the process might be to pull those groups together to discuss what is practical and what is needed. We do not need a debacle like that which took place with the national children's hospital, where the various institutions tried to have the hospital located at their facilities. We need to begin very soon the conversation about what is needed.

I must admit to being somewhat frazzled because I have just returned from the May Day march in O'Connell Street. I take this opportunity to express my solidarity with my former work colleagues in An Post, with the members of the United Left Alliance and with all my friends here. I wish everyone a happy May Day. This year is, of course, the 100th anniversary of the great Lock-out.

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