Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A cello might be more useful. So too would a double bass. I do not think a violin works.

The Opposition proposes to establish a statutory body to deal with organ donations. There are statutory bodies for everything so that everyone can have a job.and nothing gets done. In Haggardstown, when we did not want anything done, we set up a committee and a sub-committee and then we knew nothing would be done. Let us work with the Irish Medicines Board to get progress on this. That is what it is all about. My father-in-law had a kidney transplant, and one of my children was born with reflux in both kidneys which was diagnosed antenatally so that operations could be performed. We still wait and we are still hoping that everything will work out right. Everyone is involved. No one has a monopoly on this issue.

There is movement. The human tissue Bill will bring movement. People talk about presumed consent and the top four countries for organ donation have presumed consent, such as Spain, Lithuania and others. Members will note that in the 30 submissions on human tissue, 29 submissions are not in favour of presumed consent. We must consider that and see how we will create an increase in organ donation. Let us be positive. We need to publish the human tissue Bill, with which all sides agree. Perhaps Senator Daly's motion has accelerated that process. I do not know.

We need put in place a comprehensive awareness campaign. We need to adopt the same approach as the Road Safety Authority by availing of the services of a high profile person like Gay Byrne or Joe Brolly. We need to appoint transplant co-ordinators in all hospitals. We have introduced new driving licence applications. We need to everyone to get the number 115 on their driving licences. We need to work towards having a single transplant unit for the entire country. The Government is doing that. It is also necessary to recruit additional staff. I hear that is on the way. We must consider putting in place a procedure to discharge the out of pocket expenses incurred by living donors. I know money is not everything, but it can be an issue for someone who does not have it. In the UK, £5,000 is paid to cover loss of earnings, travel costs and miscellaneous expenses. We need to work. We should leave with a positive message. I ask Senator Daly to withdraw the muck he threw when he said the Minister is responsible for deaths.