Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and everyone who took part in the debate. This is an example of how Friday sittings can be of benefit. The quality of the debate on this report, in contrast to others, was breathtaking.

Donation is a gift and it offers consolation. As the Minister stated, the generosity of the Irish people knows no bounds. I thank all those who work in our hospitals and those who tend and care for people affected by renal failure and other issues which involve transplantation. The movement to a soft opt-out system gives families the important option to opt out if they wish. I welcome the Minister's commitment on the human tissue Bill and his comments on the filling of posts.

It is important that we thank the families. During its hearings the committee heard from many people. Phyllis Cunningham, the senior transplant co-ordinator of the national organ procurement service, left us with an important legacy as she read into the record a letter that I wish to share with the House. She stated:

I will share an example of the gratitude felt by recipients by reading an excerpt from a letter written by a 16 year old to his donor family on the anniversary of his transplant. He said:I know this time of year is very hard for you but I hope it helps to know that I think of you every day and how grateful I am for the wonderful gift you gave me. Everything I do, everything I achieve, I do it for you. Most especially, I bring your loved one with me and I will try never to let you down. Once again, thank you for changing my life, from a kidney recipient.In reply, the family wrote back, "Our lives will never be the same because of the loss of our loved one but your letter is beautiful remembrance. Take care and best wishes for the future".

When appearing before the joint committee, Professor Jim Egan stated, "The goal of [the] soft opt-out [system] is to allow organ donation to be the society norm" and he is correct. In his presentation to the joint committee Dr. Liam Plant stated, "In the absence of a robust organisation and infrastructure to support this endeavour, any legislative framework is unlikely to achieve its maximum potential in increasing [organ] donation." One cannot but be struck by the great work done by the Irish Kidney Association and its many volunteers nationwide. I hope the position espoused by its chief executive can evolve over time and that, together with his organisation, he will come to support the movement Members are professing to support.

I thank the Minister for his commitment and appreciate the warm embrace by all members of the joint committee of the report and the movement in the system. This is about people's lives and ensuring those who deserve to can get a second chance at living, as the 16 year old boy mentioned has shown today in the letter referred to.

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