Panel for non-directed living donation not yet established

An independent panel to assess applications for non-directed altruistic living kidney donation has not yet been established.

Currently in Ireland, living kidney donation is entirely directed, meaning it is only open to relatives or close friends of a transplant recipient.

The Human Tissue Act 2024 introduced a legislative basis for donation by living donors to the transplant system (rather than to a specific person). This part of the legislation was commenced in June 2025.

A Department of Health spokesperson said the establishment of an independent panel is underpinned by part two of the Human Tissue Act 2024.

“This panel will be responsible for authorising non-directed altruistic living donation of organs by adults, living donation of tissues and cells by adults who lack capacity, and living donation of tissues and cells by children under the age of 18.”

The spokesperson confirmed that non-directed altruistic organ donation cannot take place until the independent panel is operational.

The purpose of the panel is to provide “additional safeguards” to protect the potential donor to ensure
donation is being entered into voluntarily and without duress or coercion.

The panel will assess applications to ensure that certain conditions are met, including those around consent and medical need, and that no payment or non-financial inducements have been given to the potential donor.

This new panel will consider pathways for organ donation not previously in place in Ireland. Therefore, it is necessary to “identify and establish the structures and supports to enable the panel to operate effectively”.

“This process is underway and includes consultation with relevant stakeholders including the Health Service Executive and transplant centres. Every effort is being made to ensure that the panel is established in a timely manner.”

A spokesperson for Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, the national kidney transplant centre, said: “We are awaiting a plan from the HSE about the creation of the independent panel, which is a requirement for non-directed altruistic donation. This should also be supported by a national media campaign.”

Currently, 600 people are on the waiting list for kidney transplantation.