Northern Ireland

First Minister Paul Givan pledges support for soft opt-out organ donation legislation

Robin Swann spoke of his frustration at delays to organ donor legislation
Robin Swann spoke of his frustration at delays to organ donor legislation Robin Swann spoke of his frustration at delays to organ donor legislation

First Minister Paul Givan last night pledged his support to advancing legislation for soft opt-out organ donation in Northern Ireland.

Tweeting the announcement, Mr Givan said he had "given approval for legislation from @RobinSwannMoH on Soft Opt-Out Organ Donation to proceed by way of urgent procedure to the Northern Ireland Assembly". 

The DUP assembly member, who was appointed first minister last week, had earlier spent the evening "engaging" with the Donate4Daithi campaign and the British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland.

Earlier health minister Robin Swann had described delays in advancing the legislation as "very frustrating".

He was speaking after west Belfast man Máirtín MacGabhann, whose four-year-old son Dáithí needs heart transplant surgery, had appealed to politicians to act amid fears the approaching summer recess at Stormont would stall progress.

Mr Swann’s proposed bill would mean people automatically become organ donors, unless they specifically say otherwise, but it needed approval from the Executive before it could go to the assembly.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK without a soft opt-out system, after the law in England changed last year.

Mr Swann, who raised the matter at the Executive yesterday, told BBC News NI that the DUP, which previously opposed a similar proposal, had been blocking his bill.

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 on behalf of the patient.

The Department of Health has held a public consultation on the proposed law change and Mr Swann said he has tried a number of times in recent weeks to bring the bill to the Executive, but failed to get it onto the agenda.

"This is the challenge I’ve put to the executive, I’ve now written twice to the first and deputy first ministers even looking at urgent procedure to get this to the next stage,” he said.

"It is frustrating for me as a minister, this issue was first brought to the assembly in 2016.

“If it does meet objection and we have to change parts of it, I’d rather have that conversation in the assembly chamber where we can do it openly, democratically and where everyone’s concerns can be raised publicly.”

All the main executive parties apart from the DUP had said they would support the minister’s bill.

Sinn Féin assembly member Colm Gildernew, who is chair of the health committee, said: "There are important pieces of legislation moving through the assembly structures such as the soft opt-out donation and adoption legislation.

“These are very important pieces of law which will significantly impact the lives of so many of our constituents. Timely passage is of great importance. 

“I am pleased that the health committee have agreed to write to the Minister of Health and the Executive Office for an update from him on the progress of the legislation and to urge him to expedite the process.”

Speaking last night, Mr MacGabhann said Mr Givan had made the "correct decision" as it now "triggers democratic process" and allows "our elected representatives to discuss the bill on the Assembly floor".

"This is a small victory for our campaign. There can be no more delays," he said.

Mr MacGabhann added that he and his family had been invited to Stormont today to meet with the First Minister.