Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate both Deputy Tom Fleming and everyone who has contributed on the issue. It genuinely shows how we can operate in a very effective way when we co-operate. I speak about both Government and Opposition. It is rare enough that we agree on issues even when they are clearly of benefit to society but when we do it is illuminating and we do it well.

I am responding to the debate on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly. I thank Deputy Tom Fleming and members of the Technical Group for raising this important issue. It is encouraging that there is agreement throughout the House on the motion that is aimed at increasing the number of organs available for transplantation. I was listening to the debate and while it may be a cliché it is nevertheless true that the gift of an organ is the gift of life.

Those who receive and those who give benefit in equal measure.

Many Deputies mentioned Joe Brolly and the positive impact of his gesture in terms of increasing awareness of organ donation. Indeed, we must consider organisations like the GAA and the impact they can have. The GAA is in every parish in the country and can have an enormous impact when it gets involved in any issue. Of course, members of Irish Donor Network already host a Organ Donor Awareness Week, which is all about keeping the spotlight on the issue.

I listened with interest to Deputy O'Sullivan's speech. I have an experience from the other side, that of the donor. I agree there is great joy associated with the gift of an organ, whether it is a retina, heart, lung, kidney, or in some instances, liver. At the same time, I must commend the bravery of families who make the decision to donate the organs of their loved ones. Having seen that at very close quarters, I know how difficult such a decision is. We speak about issues such as opt-in and opt-out systems but without having had any personal experience of these issues, we sometimes do not realise the difficulties involved in making the decision to donate. Once again, I commend the bravery of those people who have to make such a decision. They make it in the knowledge that there is no hope for their own loved one. They also make it in the knowledge that there are people who are desperately awaiting those organs, which will make an enormous difference to their lives. The most spectacular changes I have seen have been with people who get kidney transplants. There is nearly an overnight change in their condition. It is quite spectacular to see that and to see the joy it brings to them and their families. However, we should never forget the courage and bravery required in order to ensure that this happens.

The Government has recognised that improving organ donation rates is a national priority. That is why the programme for Government contains a commitment to the introduction of an opt-out system of organ donation. The overall objective of this commitment is to improve the availability of organs for patients in need of transplantation. Those who have received organs and who have gone on to have different lives as a result have become very involved in this campaign. Deputy Sherlock and I know a lady, Noreen O'Halloran-Hannon, who is a recent recipient of a kidney and has become hugely involved in the organ donor awareness campaign. Her own personal experience tells her the benefits that organ donation can have. We should not forget those people either. Those waiting on an organ donation are in the need of the gift of life.

Prior to introducing this new opt-out system, the Department of Health will be embarking on a national consultation process on how such a scheme should operate. Of course, changing the consent system alone will not improve donation and transplantation rates. Many times in the course of the debate on this motion Deputies emphasised that consent must be part of a package of measures which will serve to improve the infrastructure within our hospitals to support the teams who already do sterling work in this area. Donor co-ordination, education and awareness about the benefits of transplantation must be part of the package. Deputy Kelleher said last night that he wanted to see a broad-based consultation and information campaign undertaken and research conducted into the most successful methods employed in other countries, a statement echoed by many other Deputies. We know that some countries which have an opt-out consent system do not have good donor rates which indicates that other factors must also play a role. We will analyse practices and patterns of donations in other countries. We will also ensure that the views of the voluntary agencies, through the Irish Donor Network, are an integral part of the process, as their members have a wealth of knowledge and experience in this area.

Deputy Boyd Barrett question whether our air ambulance service was adequate to meet the needs of patients. I assure the Deputy that all of the recommendations made by HIQA in 2011 following its investigations into why a patient was not transported in time to receive an organ donation have been implemented. A national aero-medical co-ordination centre ensures that all transport between hospitals, including transport of retrieval teams for organs, takes place in a timely fashion.

As a nation we have proven many times in the past that we can change our cultural attitudes and adapt to new ways of thinking and working to achieve our health goals. Similarly, the Government wants to see a change in our cultural attitude towards organ donation so that in the future organ donation becomes the norm.

I thank everyone who contributed to the debate in a very genuine fashion. Simply changing the system by which people give their consent will never be good enough on its own, however. There are, for example, very small hospitals in Ireland which have a very high rate of organ donation, while some of the biggest hospitals have a lower rate. That is more than a systems issue. That clearly demonstrates that some people in certain hospitals have a particular interest in this issue and take the time and summon the courage to broach what is a very difficult subject.

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