Fine Gael TD for Limerick Patrick O’ Donovan has this week organised a briefing session in Leinster House on organ donation. The briefing is being facilitated to coincide with the Health Committee hearings this week (Thursday 18th April) on the personal and advocacy perspectives to organ donation.
Deputy O’ Donovan though not a member of the Health Committee has organised the briefing to raise awareness of organ donation in Ireland. The Deputy has enlisted the help of three people from Limerick to recount their experiences of the organ donation system in the country. The speakers at the briefing will include recipients of organ donations as well as organ donors themselves.
“Organ donation quite simply saves lives. Despite the fact that we have a generous culture of donation here in Ireland, it is reported that organ donation last year was down 17% on the year before. This puts those who are waiting for organs in a much more precarious position and makes life for organisations such as the Irish Heart Foundation and the Irish Kidney Association more difficult”.