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Irish Kidney Assocation via Facebook

James Reilly asks the public if organ donation should be 'opt-out'

The Department of Health is considering a new system where people are assumed to consent to donate their organs after death.

THE PUBLIC IS to be asked whether organ donation should be made ‘opt-out’ in future in a bid to deal with the falling number of donors.

The Department of Health and Minister James Reilly is asking individuals and organisations to submit their views on the possible change to Ireland’s donation system.

The current system is that when a potential organ donor is identified, their family is asked for their consent to allow organ donation to take place. People who carry donor cards are advised to make their wishes known to their family.

However under an ‘opt-out’ system, it is deemed that everyone has consented to donate their organs where possible after death, unless someone explicitly registered a wish not to become an organ donor.

“Given the scarcity of organs available in Ireland for transplantation, it is important that as a society we do all we can to increase the number of organs available for transplantation,” said Minister James Reilly. “A critical part of this is to build on the current positive attitude towards organ donation.”

Pre-empting issues about consent, Reilly said that in practice, donation would not proceed if the next of kin of the deceased person objected.

Individuals and groups are asked to submit their views on the opt-out system by Friday 23 September. A consultation document and details on how to submit responses can be seen here on the Department of Health website.

Read: Organ donation fell 17 per cent last year – IKA >

Column: I gave a kidney to my husband to save his life >

Read: Facebook campaigns have the power to ‘dramatically boost’ organ donation >

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73 Comments
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    Mute eastsmer
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    Jul 7th 2018, 6:14 PM

    Fabulous, Delighted that some of our fading culture, traditions, music & language are being saved

    84
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    Mute WoodlandBard
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    Jul 7th 2018, 6:40 PM

    There is an archive of 17,400 Alan Lomax recordings online. Here is the first page of the Irish ones
    http://research.culturalequity.org/get-audio-ix.do?ix=recording&id=IE&idType=countryCode&sortBy=abc

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    Mute WoodlandBard
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    Jul 7th 2018, 6:35 PM

    Alan Lomax, and amazing man. This looks like being an amazing film.

    48
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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Jul 7th 2018, 8:05 PM

    @WoodlandBard: yep can’t wait to see it

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    Mute Garreth Byrne
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    Jul 7th 2018, 8:25 PM

    Obair mhaith. TG4 has made some innovative documentaries on a range of topics in recent years. Incidentally, did Lomax ever meet up with Ciaran MacMathuna, who did so much steady work over five decades talking to traditional Irish musicians and recording their skilled renditions?

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    Mute andrew
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    Jul 7th 2018, 8:20 PM

    No mention of Seamus Ennis. Could the Journal ever get some decent journalists?

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Jul 7th 2018, 10:27 PM

    @andrew: what’s the Seamus Ennis connection with Lomax?

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    Mute Sean
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    Jul 7th 2018, 11:03 PM

    @Dermot Lane: He was Lomax’ guide in Ireland.

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    Mute Sean
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    Jul 7th 2018, 11:04 PM

    @Dermot Lane: His guide in Ireland, recommended to him by the BBC, was the Dublin piper and singer Seamus Ennis, then an employee of Radio Eireann and formerly a collector for the Irish Folklore Commission. Both institutions also supported Lomax during his time here by giving him sound-recording facilities and access to their archives.

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Jul 8th 2018, 8:28 AM

    @Sean: thanks Sean it was a genuine question

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