Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join Senator Ardagh in her appeal for people to donate blood. Yesterday, the Minister for Health appealed to people to donate blood and made a very strong statement on the matter. The Irish Blood Transfusion Service has requested people to donate. I ask Members of the House to encourage people to donate blood through social media and other means. Senator Ardagh is 100% correct when she said people require blood for a variety of different reasons. It is imperative that we, through this Chamber and our own offices, appeal to people to donate blood. As much as one in four people will require a blood transfusion at some stage of their lives. As Senator Ardagh has said, many people need blood donations now because the blood supply has been severely depleted due to the storm. It is important that blood donors, and those who would like to become blood donors, donate now. I urge people to visit donation clinics. There is information available on this matter. It is important that Senators support the call to donate blood, and I join Senator Ardagh in doing that.