Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 24, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following:

“Transplantation and Donation Audit

17. The Minister shall by way of regulation direct the Executive to publish an annual audit of

the activities of procurement organisations and transplantation centres which includes:

(a) The number of deaths in hospitals;

(b) The number of potential donors;

(c) The number of donors requested to donate;

(d) The number of donors assessed as being medically suitable for donation and

where donation was not feasible, identifies the reasons;

(e) The responses of families or next of kin to organ donor requests, classified by

reason;

(f) The number of organ retrievals, classified by the reason retrieval was not

feasible; and

(g) The number of transplants, classified by the reason transplantation was not

feasible.”.

My amendment relates to an audit and, again, the Irish Kidney Association are very keen that we legislate for an annual published audit. The reason for that call is that there is a sense it would improve accountability and help to ensure that dedicated funding is not diverted. It would also help to identify missed organ donation opportunities. It strikes me as being good practice. In November 2021 an available organ was not transplanted due to a lack of resources in the Mater Hospital and we all remember that. In 2022 the National Office of Clinical Audit also recommended an annual audit, stating that, "a potential donor audit is a key driver of improvement in organ donation rates".Also, out of 72 countries worldwide, Ireland ranks 28th in terms of organ donation rates. Pre-pandemic, Ireland's rate was 18 per million of population compared to Spain, for example, at 49 per million of population. The first and only potential donor audit was carried out in 2009 and I do not know why we have not had an audit since then. The discipline and regularity of an audit helps to refocus attentionon it and ensure funding is being spent in the right way. It is good practice and I hope the Minister will consider supporting the amendment.

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