asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the recent suggestion to set up a committee to investigate all aspects of organ transplantation in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Organ Transplantation.
49.
I presume that the Deputy is referring to suggestions made at the discussion held last week in the Royal College of Surgeons on the subject "Death; its clinical determination in relation to Organ Transplantation". I have seen the newspaper reports and those reports, although attenuated, give some idea of the complexities involved in this whole area and of the need for more comprehensive study.
I have had the whole question of organ transplantation under consideration but I propose, before coming to a decision whether or not to set up a committee such as was suggested, to ask the appropriate medical and other representative bodies to define for me the specific problems which have to be faced in regard to organ transplantation.
It has become a very real fact at present that there is need for this and for a code of ethics. It is vital to doctors that a code of ethics should be laid down. It is vital that a committee or a commission be set up for this purpose. It is the medical profession, who will be personally concerned in this, who have asked about this. The Minister says that he is consulting those people with regard to setting up a committee. They have already asked him to do this.
You would not understand from this question that they are asking this. The Minister has pointed out here that he will seek the information from the appropriate medical and other representative bodies to define the specific problems which have to be faced in regard to organ transplanation.
They have asked the Minister to set up a commission to investigate the legal, medical and theological aspects of organ transplantation. Those are the people who will be involved in organ transplantation, which will likely take place in Ireland in the near future. Why is he going to ask them again about this when they have already asked him to set up a commission? They are not outside people.
I have given the Minister's answer to that.