Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the Seanad to discuss this ground-breaking legislation. I commend him on introducing it because it is long overdue. It brings us into line with best practice in other leading European countries. The Minister has quite ably outlined the two aspects to this, the organ retention and post mortem side of it, and the organ donation side of it. As he mentioned, more than 600 people are on the organ transplant list. Our colleague and friend Councillor Gail Dunne is one of those 600. He has spoken very passionately about the need for this Bill. It is throwing a lifeline to people who are in a very difficult health situation. I have another friend who makes up part of that 600, so this day is very important. I hope we will have good co-operation from everybody in this House in relation to passing it