Human tissue Bill
Deputy Heydon asked for progress on the human tissue Bill and the opt-out organ donation system. The Minister for Health said pre-legislative scrutiny was expected this year and significant progress would be made in 2018.
My question is for the Minister for Health, regarding an update on the human tissue Bill. Following publication of the report on the public consultation process in December, which showed a large majority of respondents support the planned opt-out system for organ donation, and a milestone 300 organ transplants carried out in 2017, progressing the Bill will help continue this growth. It is something I would like to see happening as soon as possible.
Comment on this
I thank Deputy Heydon for raising this very important issue. We had a very important and informed public consultation, and I published its results just after Christmas. I expect to be in a position to go to pre-legislative scrutiny this year. We will make a lot of progress on it in 2018.