Two doctors need to verify death via a series of strict tests[5] There are Specialist Organ Donation Personnel working in hospitals throughout Ireland who provide training, education, support and advice.
[5] In November 2023, the Dáil Éireann (lower house of the Oireachtas, or Irish parliament) passed the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill 2022.
In 1999, it was revealed that the organs of thousands of children in Ireland were sold to pharmaceutical companies without their families' knowledge or consent.
In 2004, Mary Harney took over as Minister for Health and appointed Dr Deirdre Madden to produce a report based on the contents of the Dunne Inquiry.
[8][9] Former Minister for Health, Simon Harris, has said "that the proposed opt-out system would encourage people to discuss their intentions regarding organ donation with their next-of-kin.
"[10] The bill also aims to ensure that "no hospital post-mortem examination should be carried out, and no tissue retained, for any purpose whatsoever without authorisation".