Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----and it was a very interesting debate. I learned a lot from that debate. The only regret I have, and this is not the Minister’s fault, but it is more our fault, is that it has taken until now to deliver what was hoped on that balmy August day. It is only appropriate that we acknowledge the contribution of our Leas-Chathaoirleach, Senator Daly, because this Bill would probably not be here today but for the advocacy that has been done over the years by Senator Daly and others.

I agree with Senator Clifford-Lee that this is ground-breaking. Many people would be happy to give their organs but probably do not have a card or have not signed up, registered or engaged with whatever the current process is. I have an organ donor card, but if you asked me where it is at home, I would not be able to find it. I sincerely hope that if anything were to ever happen to me and if, God help us, my organs were to be of use to anyone, that would happen. I therefore think the opt-out system is the way to go. It is people’s choice if they do not want their organs to be donated for whatever reason. I do not think too many people would want my eyes, for example, but there might be other parts of my body that might be of use. However, if there are people who, for whatever reason, decide they do not want to do this, that is their right and it has to be respected. That is where the register that the Minister is proposing comes from.

This is the right and proper thing to do and, as I said, it should have been done a long time ago. Had it been done years ago, there would probably be more people alive today and it would have saved more lives. That said, it is never too late to do the right thing. I fully, 100% endorse the legislation. I commend the Minister, because there will not be massive headlines when this Bill is passed, but it is still transformative. That has to be acknowledged, because there are a lot of challenges in the Department of Health. Bernard Gloster was before the health committee for three hours today. We understand the challenges that exist, but the good news sometimes falls between the cracks. When the right thing is being done, we need to shout it from the rooftops as much as when people advocate when things go wrong. Well done and congratulations.