Dobson formally lodges organ donation bill

Upper Bann MLA and Party Health Spokesperson, Jo-Anne Dobson, has formally lodged her Organ Donation Private Members Bill with the Assembly Speaker’s Office.
Jo-Anne Dobson MLA with Transplant charity representatives and fellow MLAs at Stormont prior to lodging her Organ Donation Bill with the Speakers Office.Jo-Anne Dobson MLA with Transplant charity representatives and fellow MLAs at Stormont prior to lodging her Organ Donation Bill with the Speakers Office.
Jo-Anne Dobson MLA with Transplant charity representatives and fellow MLAs at Stormont prior to lodging her Organ Donation Bill with the Speakers Office.

Mrs. Dobson said the bill would modernise local laws, moving Northern Ireland to a new soft opt-out system and bringing the country into line with the changes taking place in Wales later this year, and which are also progressing in Scotland.

Mrs Dobson said: “I was delighted to once again be flanked by the organ donation family of charity members and campaigners at Stormont as I submitted my Bill to the Assembly Speaker.

“It was very fitting that this coincided with the start of National Transplant Week, a week in which we think about those who have received the gift of life and also those families who, at a time of grief, have made the decision to donate their loved ones organs.

She added: “Last week the Department of Health revealed support was increasing for the soft opt-out movement and I pay particular tribute to all those charities and groups who have been spearheading the campaign here in Northern Ireland.

“Together our ultimate aim is to save lives by changing the law and making organ donation the norm in our society.

She concluded: “However, I was disappointed by the statement from the Health Minister Simon Hamilton last week in which he announced his ‘wait and see’ approach to changing the law.

“This is disappointing as no one would be more delighted than I if the Health Minister were to announce that he was tasking his Department with bringing forward soft opt-out legislation as was suggested by his predecessor back in 2013.”