asked the Minister for Health if he intends to publish a national policy in relation to organ transplantation.
Written Answers. - Organ Transplantation.
101.
I do not see any need to publish a policy in relation to organ transplantation as suggested by the Deputy. I have made my position on the various aspects of transplantation policy clear on many occasions. I am in favour of transplantation and will encourage its expansion as resources permit. I believe that public support for transplantation should be encouraged through greater awareness on the part of the public of the benefits of transplantation. Public support is more likely to be sustained if we adhere to our policy of voluntary donation rather than any policy based on presumed consent.
My Department has also pursued a policy of concentrating transplant activity in a series of national centres as the most effective means of supporting transplant activity and this policy has been broadly supported by the medical profession.
Transplantation is a rapidly developing area of medicine with many concerns of an ethical nature. I am satisfied that through the work of the transplant co-ordinating committee we have a satisfactory mechanism for monitoring transplant activity in Irish hospitals.