Covid-19 and the New Measures (Health): Statements
Seanad Éireann — 2021-12-01
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Stephen Donnelly (FF), Wicklow

I am more than happy to do that. I am aware of the case. It is being looked at. It is absolutely soul-destroying for the patient, the patient's family and the family of the donor for that to happen. The anguish such a situation can cause is indescribable. It should never happen. We are making a lot of positive policy changes in respect of organ donation. Legislation is coming through which will essentially move us to an opt-out system rather than an opt-in system. Investment is being made in the infrastructure required. There may also be opportunities in respect of international sharing. We do some of this and I have asked the Department to explore opportunities to develop a wider international network for sharing.
As the Cathaoirleach will be aware, the situation he has mentioned came down to the availability of an ICU bed. We have to keep the pressure up, as we are doing, in order to get ICU and critical care capacity to a satisfactory level. We simply do not have that now. The baseline of 225 critical care beds was too low by a long way. We have tasked the HSE with adding as many critical care beds as possible. There is no issue in respect of funding. I have allocated over €60 million in funding over this year and next year just for critical care. It is not a straightforward thing to do but it is absolutely essential and will help with regard to the issue the Cathaoirleach has raised.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2021-12-01/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:49:53+00:00
Sitting date: 2021-12-01