Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1284: To ask the Minister for Health the date on which he will bring the Bill dealing with changes to organ donation before Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18425/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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EU Directive 2010/53/EU, which sets down common quality and safety standards for the procurement, transport and use of organs, is due to be transposed by August 27 this year, by statutory instrument. It applies to the donation, testing, characterisation, procurement, preservation, transport and transplantation of organs. Under the Directive, Member States must also ensure that donations of organs from deceased and living donors are voluntary and unpaid. My Department is working in cooperation with the HSE to ensure that the necessary systems, processes and procedures are in place so that the health service is in a position to comply with the requirements of the Directive by the transposition date.

The Deputy will also be aware that the Programme for Government envisages the future introduction of an opt-out system of organ donation, with a view to improving the availability of organs for patients in need of transplantation. This will of course require detailed consideration and my Department will be consulting further on this matter.