Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We recently passed Second Stage of the defibrillator Bill. It got quite a lot of attention. I was approached by a number of people in regard to it. A young man was mentioned by Senator Power as somebody who had experienced a heart attack, was taken for dead and was rescued because a man in his club had the ability and knowledge to operate a defibrillator. He was saved. He suggested it would be very easy for everybody to learn how to use a defibrillator. It does not take very long and it could be part of the transition year programme. Apparently the training takes half an hour. Within a couple of years everybody in the country would be able to use the equipment. I wish to pass my suggestion to the Minister for Education and Skills. It would be a worthy exercise.

About four years ago the House debated the issue of presumed consent for organ donation. The matter was shelved and nothing has happened since then. Wales yesterday passed a law with the same intention we had some four years ago. I understand the law was passed by a vote of 34 to ten. It is a worthy step. One can automatically opt out if one does not want to participate.

I refer to what Senator Barrett said about yesterday's debate. It was very interesting but, as he said, the Minister did not accept any amendments. He gave the impression that the amendments pertaining to banks would be accepted.

Senator Barrett drew attention to one particular amendment, namely, that the Central Bank may consult different bodies for advice. He tabled an amendment which stated among those which would have to be consulted would be the Competition Authority-----