Families cannot wait any longer for Human Tissue Bill – Lombard

A Fine Gael Senator is calling on the Department of Health to publish the Human Tissue Bill to offer families security and closure.

Cork Senator Tim Lombard raised the matter with the Minister for Health on October 10th during a commencement matter in the Seanad.

Senator Lombard has been in contact with one of the families affected by the delay, Laura and Fintan Kelleher. In 2020, Laura and Fintan were one of 18 families affected by a tragedy when their babies’ organs were incinerated in Belgium after being sent there from Cork University Maternity Hospital. This occurred without their consent or knowledge which has had a deeply traumatic effect.

Senator Lombard is calling for clarity on when the Bill is going to be published after previously being told by the Minister for Health that it would be published by the end of 2021.

Senator Lombard said, “Last year, the Minister of Health stated that the Human Tissue Bill would be published by the end of 2021 when I asked him about it in the Seanad.

“There has been ongoing discussion around the need to publish this legislation and almost one year on, we are still waiting.

“To say I’m disappointed is an understatement and I know that the families, who have already endured so much trauma, are also disappointed and exasperated.

“The response I got on this matter recently mirrors what I heard from Minister Mary Butler eleven months ago.

“On that occasion, she told me that it was going to be published before the end of 2021. Now we’re being told that it’s going to be done towards the end of this Oireachtas term.

“I think that’s a really frightening statement. The last twelve months have come and gone. These parents do not have any certainty when it comes to the legislation that’s been promised,” said Senator Lombard.

Referencing a petition started by the Kellehers, Senator Lombard said, “This petition is part of an ongoing effort to ensure that the Human Tissue Bill is published and prevents further tragedy.”

Information on the petition can be found below.

Notes:

• Petition · Calling on the Department of Health in Ireland to publish the Human Tissues Bill · Change.org