GAA All-star Joe Brolly and the man to whom he donated his kidney, Shane Finnegan, have met with Jerry Buttimer TD, Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children to put forward their case for what they claim would be 'a subtle but very important change to the process of organ donation' in Ireland.

A campaign conducted by Brolly in Northern Ireland to change the law has already seen the Stormont Executive commit to reviewing the system of organ donation to a presumed 'Opt Out' with families still having the final say.  At the announcement at Belfast City Hospital earlier this month First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Martin McGuinness both commended the Derry born barrister for the robust research he has undertaken in this area with Health Minister Edwin Poots stating that new legislation could be introduced as early as next year.

Joe Brolly and Shane Finnegan have stated their meeting with Jerry Buttimer is the first step on a road in which they are committed to raising the profile of organ donation and ultimately changing the law in Ireland which 'would result in saving many people's lives'.

According to Brolly who has had in depth meetings with leading clinicians in transplantation throughout the UK and Ireland, there is no downside to the change.  He said, "the proposition is very subtle but would deliver a sea change in terms of the numbers of people in Ireland receiving organs, making a profound impact upon the lives of families the length and breadth of the country.  There are no losers in this.

"The presumption, in this system, is that a person wishes to donate unless they opt out but crucially the family will always have the final say enshrining the altruism within organ donation - a sacred gift from one family to another."

Jerry Buttimer has stated that the meeting with the two Belfast based men had highlighted a really important issue.  He has now confirmed that following consultation with his Committee,  interested parties will be invited to meet the Committee in April (see Press Release attached).  

Concluding Joe Brolly said that the current opt in system operated here meant that Ireland would always languish behind countries like Spain who have transformed organ donation by adopting 'the soft opt out' approach, he said, "the exponential rise in successful transplants in Spain and other European countries is a template for the future direction of organ donation.  Through an inclusive education programme and a review of infrastructural arrangements, Ireland too can take advantage with both lives and public money being saved."

Caption:Jerry Buttimer TD, Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children with Joe Brolly and Shane Finnegan after their meeting on organ donation.

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