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01/02/2023
No Compelling Reason Not To Act On Organ Donation Bill – UUP
The Ulster Unionist Party has said that there is no compelling reason for the Secretary of State not to act on the stalled Organ and Tissue Donation Act.
As six-year-old Dáithí Mac Gabhann – who has been waiting for a transplant for four years after being born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome – and his family are to meet with Chris Heaton-Harris to discuss the bill, UUP Health spokesperson, Alan Chambers MLA said: "Little Dáithí Mac Gabhann and his family … havebeen the public face of the campaign for the introduction of this life saving Act.
"It was due to become law in early spring this year but was found to require further technical changes. In the absence of an Assembly this cannot be completed. Such an Act had been championed in recent years by Jo-Anne Dobson, a former MLA Party colleague in the Assembly. Former UUP Health Minister, Robin Swann MLA, strongly promoted the legislation when it came back to the Assembly over the last few years.
"I wish the Mac Gabhann family well in their meeting with the Secretary of State as they make the case to him to complete the changes at Westminster. It is not controversial and was supported by all Northern Ireland political parties, recognising the life-saving opportunity and hope it will provide to Dáithí and the over 130 other residents of NI currently on the Organ Donation waiting list.
"There are no compelling reasons for the SOS not to urgently act on this issue."
As six-year-old Dáithí Mac Gabhann – who has been waiting for a transplant for four years after being born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome – and his family are to meet with Chris Heaton-Harris to discuss the bill, UUP Health spokesperson, Alan Chambers MLA said: "Little Dáithí Mac Gabhann and his family … havebeen the public face of the campaign for the introduction of this life saving Act.
"It was due to become law in early spring this year but was found to require further technical changes. In the absence of an Assembly this cannot be completed. Such an Act had been championed in recent years by Jo-Anne Dobson, a former MLA Party colleague in the Assembly. Former UUP Health Minister, Robin Swann MLA, strongly promoted the legislation when it came back to the Assembly over the last few years.
"I wish the Mac Gabhann family well in their meeting with the Secretary of State as they make the case to him to complete the changes at Westminster. It is not controversial and was supported by all Northern Ireland political parties, recognising the life-saving opportunity and hope it will provide to Dáithí and the over 130 other residents of NI currently on the Organ Donation waiting list.
"There are no compelling reasons for the SOS not to urgently act on this issue."
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
