THE family of a four-year-old boy awaiting heart transplant surgery yesterday described a meeting at Stormont about soft opt-out organ donation legislation in Northern Ireland as "positive and hopeful".
Dáithí Mac Gabhann, his father Máirtín and mother Seph yesterday met First Minister Paul Givan, Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Health Minister Robin Swann.
The meeting took place hours after Mr Givan pledged his party's support to advancing the legislation, which would mean people automatically become organ donors, unless they specifically say otherwise.
As it stands, donation can only proceed in Northern Ireland if a person has given their express consent by signing the NHS Organ Donor Register or telling a family member.
Otherwise next of kin is asked to make a decision.
Northern Ireland is the only region in the UK without a soft opt-out system, after the law in England changed last year.
Mr Swann's proposed bill needed approval from the executive before it could go to the assembly.
All the main parties apart from the DUP had pledged their support. On Thursday night, Mr Givan finally gave DUP approval meaning the bill can now proceed to the assembly for debate.
The approval came after concerns had been raised that time was running out for the bill as the assembly's summer recess approaches.
Mr Mac Gabhann, whose family have been behind the Donate4Daithi organ donation campaign, was yesterday invited to Stormont with his families to meet ministers. He said it had been "positive and hopeful".
"Everyone was in good spirits and we spoke about the importance of this legislation and the potential it has to save lives," he said.
"We are confident it will go through the right stages and we feel confident that it has the right time to get through."
However, he said there was still a "long way to go".
"We are very hopeful and very positive that the bill is heading in the right direction," he said.
"We have built huge momentum and we plan on keeping that momentum and working with every politician and every party to make sure this life saving legislation goes through."
