Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This matter relates to organ donation and I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to address it. The matter was raised at the Joint Committee on Health and Children last week, with a number of groups before the committee as a result of representations made by Senator John Crown. A matter arising during the discussions was a lack of co-ordination in the promotion of organ donation.

The Irish Donor Network consists of the Irish Kidney Association, the Irish Heart and Lung Transplant Association, the Cystic Fibrosis Association, the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association, Alpha One, the liver transplant unit in St. Vincent's Hospital, the transplant co-ordinators in Beaumont Hospital and the Irish eye bank. These groups work as a network but there is little or no support within the HSE and the Department of Health to assist them in promoting the idea of organ donation. They have sought co-ordination and a plan that would involve all interested bodies. If necessary, all the bodies should be able to sit down with personnel from the HSE and the Department. People require transplants but there is a long waiting list because the organs are not available for donation, which is a concern.