Fianna Fáil General Election candidate for Clare Cllr. Cathal Crowe has accused the Transport Minister of risking lives by refusing to sign a ministerial order which would allow doctors and medical professionals access to organ donor information on driving licences.
Since 2013 driving licence applicants have been asked if they would they be willing to be an organ donor and according to the Irish Kidney Association nearly one million people have indicated that they would. However, those involved in the organ donation process still have no access to this information.
Cllr. Crowe explained, “Minister Ross’s stance on this issue is incredible. This is a potentially life-saving move and yet the Minister is stalling on signing an order to allow medical professionals access to driving licence information. This is extremely short sighted and is effectively putting lives at risk.
“We all know that those involved in the organ donor process have a limited amount of time to establish whether someone is a donor or not. Any initiative which could speed up this process and save a life should be implemented without delay.
“What makes this situation even more incredible is the fact that Minister Ross has already signed similar orders to allow the Courts, the Gardaí, parking clampers and motorway operators eFlow access to this information. Why is he refusing medical professionals, who are saving lives, this same right?
“This is Organ Donor Awareness Week and organ donors, organ recipients, volunteers and campaigners all want to see a change in the law. I am calling on Minister Ross to sign a ministerial order so that the work of doctors and those involved in the organ donor is made as straightforward as possible”, concluded Cllr. Crowe.