Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank colleagues for the support. The Bill was supported in the Dáil and is now being supported in the Upper House. That sends out a very important message to the country that this is something new and important we are doing, and both Houses are united in us moving and shifting our thinking to us all being organ donors. I thank colleagues throughout the Houses for their support.

I again acknowledge the work of the advocacy groups. I referred earlier to the Irish Kidney Association and am delighted to see its representatives with us today. The Irish Donor Network also includes other fantastic organisations, such as the Irish Heart and Lung Transplant Association, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association, Alpha-1 Foundation Ireland, hospital transport co-ordinators and others, and it is great to see everyone working together.

Finally, I thank our healthcare workers. As Senator Gavan noted, the number of transplants has gone up significantly last year and this year, and it is our intention it will continue to rise. We have invested in growing the services and need to continue to make sure the healthcare apparatus is there as well. The legislation is one essential part but more is required.

Several colleagues asked about timing. The latest advice I have is that, assuming the Bill passes Second Stage today, Committee Stage in the Seanad will be taken on 6 December. My understanding is that the remaining Stages will be taken on 12 December, if it has not already happened straight after Committee Stage. Obviously, that is a matter for the Seanad.

Prior to the commencement of Part 2, there will be the establishment and operationalisation of the opt-out register. That infrastructure has to be put in place. It relates to Organ Donation and Transplant Ireland, ODTI, and the HSE. We have to put up an online portal in order that people can opt out. We will publish the regulation guidelines and a major public communications campaign will be part of that. All going according to plan, we will have the Bill with the President before Christmas and my hope, obviously, is that he will sign it. I will commence the various Parts of the Bill as soon as they can be operationalised, and for the organ donation part, I have gone through some of the infrastructure we will have to put in place.

Other Senators asked about the position of the Bill in the context of organs being sent overseas. This happened in Cork but should never have happened, and it was deeply upsetting for those families. Specific to that, under the Bill, consent will be needed from families for arrangements relating to burial, cremation or the return of any organs that were retained, and the management of any organs must be in line with the wishes of the family. What happened in the past, therefore, can never happen again. That is very clear under law. It is one of the really important aspects of the Bill, and I want to provide that assurance to colleagues.

I again thank Senators. I hope we will be back here very shortly for Committee Stage.