Organ Retention
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-22
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Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (FF), Carlow-Kilkenny

Again, no words can ever make up for the distress experienced by affected families who have lost a loved one, particularly bereaved parents. The inappropriate retention of organs only added to the families' distress and grief. Dignity and respect for parents who have experienced the loss of a child is of paramount importance. This is why it is so important to commence the provisions of Part 3 of the human tissue Act which will establish a regulatory framework for the conduct of post-mortem examinations that embeds in law the idea that consent is the defining principle across activities involving human tissue.
Under the Act, consent will be needed from families for arrangements relating to burial, cremation or the return of any organs retained from a post-mortem examination. The management of any organs must be in line with the wishes of the family. The human tissue Act 2024 includes a number of offences for which someone can be prosecuted for serious breaches of medical practice or records management. These are not intended to criminalise clinicians but a balance must be struck.
A culture of patient safety and quality assurance, as well as open communication, must be at the heart of high-standard health services. It is important that we take all steps to prevent this ever happening again. As I said, I will meet with the Senator, and I will absolutely speak to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, on her behalf.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-22/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:50+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-22