Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for being here. I thank him for the consultation and listening to the previous organisations and groups, including the Irish Kidney Association.Most especially, he listened to those who are on the organ donor list and are awaiting a life-saving, life-transforming transplant. Many of them are, unfortunately, taken off the list because they become too sick to receive an organ donation. It is great that donations are increasing but, obviously, we want to be the best not just in Europe but in the world. A lot of that relates to systems, and the Bill is about building systems, although it cannot provide for every aspect of the systems we are talking about.

When does the Minister expect the legislation to be commenced? I know elements of it will be commenced over time. Does he hope to get it to the President before Christmas,? If not, at what stage next year will that happen?

On the budget for organ donation awareness and education planned to accompany the commencement of the legislation, does the Minister have any thoughts about how great a budget will come with that awareness, which is so vital, in order that the Bill and the intent behind it will not be misrepresented, as can often happen?

Other ideas were discussed regarding the provision of an annual audit for potential donors in legislation, funding for the development of a national audit unit within the National Office of Clinical Audit and the pilot programme that reported in September and is funded until December. Does the Minister have any thoughts on the outcome of that pilot project and its success? As is often the case, if it is not being measured, it is not being done. Will that pilot project become an annual project?

I am thinking today of Mark Murphy, Carol's predecessor as chief executive of the Irish Kidney Association, who was one of the leading people behind that recall, which we discussed at the time, when the Minister was in a different role. I think we are at this stage beyond the statute of limitations, but we did try to recall the Dáil as well for those Members in the Lower House at that time, nearly a decade ago. I thank the Minister for signing that. Getting the signatures of one third of the Members of the Dáil is a lot harder than getting those of one third of Members of the Seanad, and we fell short on that occasion. We lost by the casting vote of the then Chair of the Seanad, but the awareness that whole campaign raised brought changes within the system, with more resources allocated to the organ transplant office as a result. It will come as no surprise to the Minister that that allocation of more resources came the night before the debate in order that the Minister could come to the Seanad Chamber and announce that more resources were being given. Even if that had been the only thing the recall did, that would have been a success, but it did so much more, including heightening awareness among the public and providing more resources within hospitals for organ transplant co-ordinators and other staff, which is the important part.

One of the big issues with organ donations, especially from the Department of Health’s point of view, is that in the long run it saves money because keeping people on dialysis, as the Minister is well aware, costs hundreds of thousands over a decade and tens of millions over time. Having a functioning and well-structured organ transplant system saves the taxpayer money. Systems are very slow to change but this legislation is the first of its kind produced by the State. The previous one was introduced by the European Union but this one is being introduced by the State. In our 101-year history, give or take, depending on which way you count the history of the State, Deputy Donnelly is the first Minister for Health to bring in legislation on organ donation. For that, I thank him.