GAA star backs public consultation on organ donor system

GAA star and RTE pundit, Joe Brolly was on hand today to raise awareness of organ donation as the North's political leaders launched a public consultation  on a proposed 'opt out'  system.

The current system mirrors that of  the Republic and mainland UK, where the individual has the opportunity to 'opt in' to the system and donate their organs in the event of their death.

If the consultation delivers positive feedback then Stormont's political leaders will move to deliver a new system by way of legislation.

Brolly  volunteered to donate a kidney to his friend, Shane Finnegan after discovering that he was in urgent need of a transplant. However, although the operation was a success the donated kidney then failed.

The Irish Government previously opened up a period of public consultation on the opt-out system. The consultation received 1038 submissions from members of the public and 30 submissions from organisations and other representative groups.

Over 80% of submissions from the general public favoured an opt-out system, while only the majority of submissions from representative groups were in favour of  retaining the current opt-in system.

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