Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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611. To ask the Minister for Health the status of plans to introduce an opt-in system of organ donation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31010/19]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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665. To ask the Minister for Health the status of plans to implement a national opt-out organ donation policy; his views on whether this needs to be implemented as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31169/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 611 and 665 together.

The Government approved the publication of the General Scheme of a Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill on the 01 May 2019. The General Scheme includes provisions for a soft opt-out system of organ donation.

Under the proposed soft opt-out system, consent will be deemed unless the person has, while alive, registered their wish not to become an organ donor after death. The next-of-kin of a person who has registered their wish not to become an organ donor after death will not be approached in relation to organ donation. Where a person has not registered to opt-out of organ donation, the next-of-kin will be consulted prior to removing any organ. If the next-of-kin objects to the organ donation, the donation will not proceed.

My Department is working with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel on the drafting of the Bill. The General Scheme has been referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health for pre-legislative scrutiny, and it is anticipated that this process will commence in September.