An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-19
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Manus Boyle (FG), Nominated by the Taoiseach

I am starting on a sad note today. I offer my condolences to the families and friends of the three people who lost their lives on the roads in Donegal over the weekend. It was heartbreaking for the county during the weekend. My thoughts are with the families affected and with their friends.
I also want to recognise national organ donor awareness week and highlight the importance of organ donation. Organ donation saves lives and gives hope to people and families waiting for transplants. It is a truly generous gift that is the gift of life and it can make a huge difference in someone's life. I encourage every family to speak to their loved ones and let their wishes be known around organ donation. One simple conversation can help so many lives and can give the gift of life.
I know personally how it can make a big difference. My late mother-in-law received two kidney transplants, one from a living donor and one from a deceased donor. Her family was so grateful. She had so many great years because of organ donation. She saw her two daughters grow up and her grandchildren, who she doted on, make their first Holy Communion and their confirmation. Sadly, my wife has been waiting five years for a transplant. I see first hand what she goes through every day. She never complains. As she always says, you have to keep going. Organ donation will make a big difference to families with sick loved ones, so I ask people to please have the conversation with their family and their loved ones. Have the conversation. On the darkest day for families, a loved one can make so much of a difference to save lives by donating organs. Keep other people alive. Please, let families have their conversations and give the gift of life.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:57+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-19