Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is quite unusual to be here in August. It would be very easy to play politics with Senator Mark Daly on the issue of the recall of the House, but the matter we are discussing today is far more important than that. I suspect that some of the Senator's colleagues in Fianna Fáil are slightly envious of the publicity he has achieved in recent weeks and are wishing they had come up with the same tactic last year. The level of publicity around the issue of organ donation is very welcome, whatever the background to today's debate.

It is unfortunate that we have not made the type of progress we should have in recent decades in respect of the system of organ donation. There is something slightly mischievous going on here in that the House has been recalled to nullify a directive we should be seeking to enhance. I have spoken to significant numbers of people within the medical profession in recent days and their perspective is that the directive is a stepping stone which should be seen in the context of the human tissue Bill that is due to come before the Oireachtas in the course of the next parliamentary term. I am convinced of the Government's commitment to getting that legislation through, irrespective of what is happening here today. It is a very important issue and part of the Government's work programme. We are committed to facilitating and improving services for people who are on dialysis and awaiting an organ transplant. It is to be hoped the media coverage we have seen in recent weeks will result in more people carrying organ donor cards.

I am convinced that an opt-out clause, according to my understanding of what that means, is what we should strive to achieve. I look forward to debating the human tissue Bill in the House. I sincerely hope we will see the same enthusiastic engagement during the debate on that legislation as we have seen today. Many people might look at our discussion today in a negative way.

I believe it is extremely positive. If the Seanad is to be recalled on any issue, recalling it on this issue is appropriate. This House will be seen to become more relevant in the lives of people who are trying to deal with issues head-on.

We have heard many discussions recently about the role the Seanad could play in European Union legislation, EU directives and so forth. My colleague, Senator Colm Burke, has regularly highlighted the need for the Seanad to become more engaged in that process. It is accepted across the political divide that the Seanad has a role to play in filling the obvious gap that exists within our political structure. At the 2009 MacGill Summer School, the Taoiseach spoke extensively about the role the Seanad could play in the scrutinising of EU directives.