Irish people are willing to donate organs, but a lack of infrastructure is leading to shortages, it was claimed today.

Fear of being sued by next-of-kin means surgeons will not remove organs from deceased donors against the family’s wishes even if Ireland introduces an “opt-out” system of donation, it has been claimed.

THE vast majority of hearts donated for transplants last year were sent abroad to more suitable patients at a time when 20 Irish people where on waiting lists, two of whom died.

A STRANGER offered her kidney to a Dublin family during a live radio showyesterday.

MORE than 600 people in Ireland are awaiting life-saving organ transplant operations, new figures show.

PATIENTS who need a kidney transplant face a two-year wait just to get on the waiting list because of the dramatic fall-off in the number of procedures.

Europe will mark the 6th European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation tomorrow.

THE plight of Kerry man Billy Burke, whose life hangs on a thread as he awaits a lung transplant operation, has prompted some people to tear up their donor cards.

Irish people are being urged to carry organ donation cards as part of a new campaign launched today by the President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox.