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Press release

Minister for Health announces imminent national legislative framework for donation and transplantation services

Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, has today announced that she will commence Part 2 of the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024, concerning donation and transplantation, on 17 June 2025.

Reflecting on the significance of this step, Minister Carroll MacNeill said:

“In commencing this part of the Act, we are providing, for the first time, a national legislative framework for donation and transplantation services in Ireland.

"The legislation introduces a soft opt-out system of consent for organ donation meaning that when a person dies it is presumed that they would wish to donate their organs after their death unless they have objected to donation.

"This is a significant moment for healthcare in Ireland and respecting potential donors wishes will be fundamental to it. Family members will always be consulted before any action is taken.”

The Act will also expand pathways for living and altruistic organ donations. The aim of these measures is to increase the donor pool in Ireland by making organ donation “the norm”, while always fully respecting the wishes of people and their families.

The announcement of the upcoming change has been made to coincide with this year’s Organ Donor Awareness Week. Speaking to this year’s theme ‘Don’t Leave Your Loved Ones in Doubt’, Minister Carroll MacNeill said:

“Do take the time to talk with your family about organ donation and make sure that your choices will be known and respected. Your discussions and your decision can make a life-changing difference for others”.

For more information on the upcoming change please visit: www.gov.ie/organdonation

Notes to Editor:

Supports for Organ Donation and Transplantation Services

Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024

  • The Act has been drafted to provide:
    • general conditions for the removal, donation and use of organs and tissue from deceased and living persons for transplantation
    • regulations for both non-coronial and coronial post-mortem examinations in hospital and non-hospital settings
    • general conditions and regulations for anatomical examination
    • general conditions and regulations for public display of bodies after death
  • The Act introduces a new statutory requirement for consent across all of these activities as well as safeguards to protect the integrity of the human body before and after death and to prevent any organ retention without consent in the future.
  • The Act introduces a soft opt-out system of consent for organ donation. Under this legislation, consent for organ donation will be deemed unless the person has, while alive, registered their wish not to become an organ donor after death. In other words, when the Act is commenced, a person’s willingness to donate their organs after their death will be assumed, unless they make a statement of objection to donation. Previously, decisions about organ donation were the responsibility of the next-of-kin.
  • Families will continue to be consulted as part of a safe and respectful organ donation process, while the wishes of the deceased should be central to any decision.
  • The Act further provides a framework for the donation of organs, tissues and cells from living donors and introduces a legislative basis for non-directed altruistic living donation [i.e. donation by living donors to the transplant system, not a specific person, where donations can be assigned to patients identified by clinical staff.]
  • It is anticipated that the commencement of Part 2 of the Act, concerning organ donation and transplantation, on 17 June 2025 and the implementation of the consequent measures will help increase the donor pool in Ireland and will encourage organ donation to save lives in circumstances where this is possible.

Funding of €2 million for 2025

  • To support and maximise the outputs from progressing this Programme for Government commitment, the Minister for Health announced an additional €2 million of new development funding for services through Organ Donation and Transplant Ireland.
  • This funding will support and enhance organ donation and transplantation services, bolstering Ireland’s capacity for life saving organ transplants. More precisely, it will deliver:
    • the development of the Organ Donation Transplant Ireland national structure;
    • the expansion of the National Potential Donor Audit;
    • increased staffing infrastructure for organ donation; and
    • the development of the National Organ Retrieval Service.
  • The goal is to:
    • increase organ availability for transplantation;
    • reduce the existing transplant waiting list of 676 people; and
    • promote organ donation through the implementation of the Human Tissue Act 2024.

Organ Donor Awareness Week 2025

  • Organ Donor Awareness Week 2025 will take place from Saturday 10 to Saturday 17 May and is organised by the Irish Kidney Association in association with the HSE’s Organ Donation Transplant Ireland.
  • This year’s Organ Donor Awareness Week campaign is built around the theme ‘Don’t Leave Your Loved Ones in Doubt!’ #LeaveNoDoubt.
  • The campaign aims to raise awareness about the life-saving impact of organ donation and to encourage families to speak to their loved ones about organ donation and to let them know what your wishes are should you pass away. Sharing your wishes when you are in good health makes it a less stressful decision for your family in the event of them being approached about you being a potential organ donor.
  • For further information on Organ Donor Awareness Week, visit https://ika.ie/donorweek/