Stephen Donnelly

The Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill includes provisions around organ donation and transplantation, post-mortem practice and procedures in hospital settings, anatomical examination, and public display of bodies after death.

Health minister Stephen Donnelly will introduce the bill at second stage today as the Oireachtas returns from vacation.

Mr Donnelly said: “I am proud to be introducing this landmark piece of legislation to the Dáil. The bill will, for the first time, provide a national legislative framework to support donation and transplant services in Ireland.

“This will help increase the donor pool, but it is important to say that families will continue to be consulted ahead of donation and those individuals who object, for whatever reason, will be able to opt-out.

“Transplantation is currently the only available treatment for end-stage heart, lung and liver failure. It is also the most cost-effective treatment for end-stage kidney disease, and it brings enormous clinical and social benefits to patients who would otherwise remain on dialysis.”

Separately, the bill will also introduce a new regulatory regime to ensure best practice is followed in respect of post-mortem and organ retention.

In line with the recommendations of the Madden Report, the bill introduces consent provisions for non-coronial post-mortems and sets out a clear framework for how consent should be obtained.

Mr Donnelly said: “The bill recognises the need to introduce safeguards to protect the integrity of the human body before and after death.

“It will make consent for non-coronial post-mortems compulsory and will improve communication and information-sharing with families for all post-mortems, including those conducted under the direction of the coroner.”

The bill also puts in place arrangements in relation to the practice of anatomy and will legislate for the governance of the public display of bodies in Ireland.