Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If we can do anything for that lady, I ask the Senator to provide me the details and I will follow up on it. I know many people who have CF. They are a group I admire. Many of them are highly successful. A member of my extended family who has CF is a credit to her parents and leading a very full life. I fully support the provision of any supports that are required in the context of CF.

I thank the Senator for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to speak on it in the Seanad on behalf of my colleague,the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly. The Government is committed to increasing organ donation and transplantation rates in Ireland and making organ donation the norm in situations where the opportunity arises. Organ donation is among the most selfless acts people can bestow on each other. The improvement in the quality of life for organ recipients and their families cannot be overstated. We have a duty to do everything we can to ensure that as many people as possible benefit from organ donation.

The Government has taken a number of measures in recent years to improve organ donation and transplantation services in Ireland. Since 2020, an additional €2.25 million in funding has been allocated to support the ongoing development of transplant services. This funding has enabled the HSE to: develop the staffing and infrastructure of the organ donation and transplant system; prepare the online opt-out register for the upcoming system of opt-out consent to be implemented with the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill 2022; undertake a pilot potential donor audit through the National Office of Clinical Audit to better understand and improve donation rates; and enhance our ability to assess organ donors from abroad.

In addition to funding, the Government has introduced the human tissue Bill to provide a national legislative framework for operating donation and transplant services in Ireland. This Bill, which is currently progressing through the Oireachtas, will support organ donation and transplantation through the introduction of a soft opt-out organ donation system. Under this system, when a person dies consent to donation will be deemed unless the person has registered his or her wish not to become an organ donor after death. Family members will continue to be consulted prior to removing any organ. If the next-of-kin objects to the organ donation, the donation will not proceed. The Bill further legislates for living organ donation and will provide pathways for non-directed altruistic donation. The introduction of this system, together with an extensive communication and education programme, will help raise awareness of organ donation and ultimately encourage more people to donate.

I will deal specifically with the issue of the consultant physician post. This is the kernel of the matter raised by the Senator. We have been informed by the HSE that engagement is ongoing between organ donation and transplant Ireland, ODTI, and the cystic fibrosis national clinical programme regarding the structuring of this post. It is expected the post will be approved shortly and recruited, subject to suitable candidates applying, in 2023. I will follow up with the Department and get precise dates for when it will be advertised, when the recruitment will take place and when it is expected to have a consultant in place. I undertake to go back to the Minister to obtain those details for the Senator. This appointment will ensure the effective management of the transplant waiting list and minimise the requirement for post-transplant care through the provision of medical support tailored to the needs of this complex patient group of CF sufferers.