Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply and I welcome the moves made in respect of organ donation and transplantation. We had a number of issues raised at the time of the Seanad recall about the crossover and infrastructural failures of the implementation of the EU directive on organ transplantation by the Minister's predecessor. It was described by the head of the Spanish transplant authority as a system that would kill people because it was not streamlined. I am glad to see people being appointed.

While it is not the matter on the Adjournment, given the fact that the Minister had knowledge of both Departments, perhaps he can give his view on the matter I mentioned earlier, which is the greatest failure to have joined-up thinking. Can the Minister look into the ability of the organ donor co-ordinators to ask the driving licence authority whether the person had ticked the box? The decision is so traumatic that the fact that people know for certain that it was the wish of the loved one would make all the difference. I have an organ donor card in my wallet, as I am sure the Minister has, but this must be found for health care staff to know about it, unless it was discussed in advance.