Fianna Fáil Senator Darragh O’Brien has called on Minister for Health to confirm if he will attend the Seanad when it reconvenes next week for an important debate on organ donation.
Senator O’Brien was commenting after it was confirmed that the Seanad will be recalled from its summer break on August 20
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to discuss this issue.
“Despite repeated attempts to contact Minister Reilly to ascertain if he will attend the Seanad on August 20
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to discuss this important organ donation directive, we have yet to receive a response.
“It is crucial that the Minister for Health attend the Seanad to participate in the debate as he is the person that signed the statutory instrument that transposed the EU organ donation directive into Irish legislation in 2011 without any debate in the Oireachtas.
“It is vital he attends the Seanad to explain why there was no proper debate or scrutiny.
“There has also been a delay in the publication of the Human Tissue Bill, which covers all aspects of organ donation.
“Minister Reilly has a duty here to attend and respect the Seanad by participating in the debate.”