Monthly Archives: July 2013

Our bid to recall the Seanad from its August recess in order to scrutinize inadequate Organ Donation Legislation was reported in Thursday 15 July’s print of the Irish Daily Mail, including a piece on Regina Hennelly, a recent transplant recipient from Co. Mayo

Full Text of both articles below will be uploaded soon.

Report: Niamh Lyons, Political Correspondent

Be part of the Conversation! Tweet @SenatorMarkDaly #seanad to follow our progress on recalling the Seanad, and stay up to date on Mark’s work for Organ Donation and Transplantation in Ireland here.

Senator Daly would like to wish all those who are heading off – the team and their families – a sincere best of luck in South Africa

Pride and anticipation as transplant athletes head to World Transplant Games

There are 24 Irish athletes taking part in the games this year, which will kick off in Durban, South Africa, on July 28.

http://www.thejournal.ie/team-tranplant-ireland-1007914-Jul2013/

Be part of the Conversation! Tweet @SenatorMarkDaly #seanad to follow our progress on recalling the Seanad on crucial Organ Donation and Transplantation Legislation in Ireland, and stay up to date on Mark’s work with the Irish Kidney Association and other groups in  Ireland here.

Thu, Jul 25, 2013, 10:49

Harry McGee 

Senator Mark Daly has sought to recall the Upper House in August to question Minister for Health James Reilly about the EU Directive on organ donation and transplantation

Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times

A Fianna Fáil Senator has started an effort to have the Seanad reconvened for a day in August to debate a EU Commission Directive on organ donation which he has claimed is flawed.

Sen Mark Daly is using an obscure provision from a 40 year old law which allows the Seanad to be recalled and reconvened for a session during the summer recess.

He wants the Upper House to summon Minister for Health James Reilly and question him about why the EU Directive on organ donation and transplantation was transposed into Irish law without consulting the Dáil or Seanad.

The Directive provided for a competent authority on donation and transplantation to be established but Mr Daly has contended that the Government decision to share the competencies between the Irish Medicines Board and the HSE was flawed and would do nothing to increase the volume or organ donation in Ireland.

Under the 1972 European Communities Act, the Seanad can be specially convened to debate a piece of European legislation if the signatures of at least 20 Senators has obtained.

Mr Daly said yesterday he had obtained 14 signatures (all of Fianna Fáil’s senators) and was confident of securing at least a further six.

He has made approaches to Sinn Féin, independent Taoiseach’s nominees as well as to the university Senators. He has until the August 6th to do so.

The move by the Kerry Senator was described as a publicity stunt yesterday by Government parties.

He attempted to do the same last year but said his efforts were thwarted by the Government who rejected the attempt even though there was no legal basis to its rejection.

If her were successful in his effort, the Seanad would be reconvened for a day in the latter half of August – at least a month before it is due back after the summer recess.

Mark Murphy of the Irish Kidney Association said yesterday that a single competent authority for organ donation and transplantation was necessary and the sharing of competencies was the “worst implementation of EU policy I have ever seen in any member State”.

Mr Daly and Mr Murphy spoke to the media yesterday outside the gates of LeinsterHouse, accompanied by Regina Hennelly, a 31 year old woman who received a kidney transplant in January 2012. Mr Daly pointed out that 650 people were awaiting kidney transplants in Ireland.

A link to Senator Daly’s Press Release can be found here.