NI Family Travel to Westminster as MPs Set to Back Dáithí's Law

Jonathan McCambridge (PA)

The father of a Belfast boy who is waiting for a new heart has said it is an “emotional day” as MPs are set to back a new organ donation law for Northern Ireland.

The family of six-year-old Dáithí Mac Gabhann have travelled to Westminster to watch the regulations introduced by the Government clear their Commons stages.

The Government has moved to progress the stalled legislation on the opt-out donation system because the political impasse at Stormont means local Assembly members have been unable to convene to pass the regulations.

The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill, which will include an amendment on Daithi’s Law, is expected to move through all stages in the House of Commons later.

Speaking at Westminster, Daithi’s father Máirtín MacGabhann said: “It’s an emotional day and a very proud day.

“The victory is finally sinking in. I don’t think it will fully sink in for a few years maybe.

“We are here, we are outside Westminster, we are going in hopefully to hear the victory that is Dáithí ’s Law.

“We have met with the Secretary of State (Chris Heaton-Harris) this morning. There was celebration in the air.

“We are just delighted, beyond proud of Dáithí , beyond proud of ourselves and looking forward to Dáithí s Law being implemented.

“Over the past few weeks we have been let down again and again. We didn’t think we would be here today, but we are.”

Mr MacGabhann said he expected the Bill to get Royal Assent on March 6 with Dáithí ’s Law in place for early summer.

Last week, a bid to restore the Assembly to pass the law failed when the DUP again exercised its veto to prevent the election of a speaker, meaning no further business could be conducted.

Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Heaton-Harris said he was taking the “exceptional step” of progressing the legislation at Westminster following cross-party support for the plight of Dáithí .

The opt-out system, which already operates in the rest of the UK, would mean adults in Northern Ireland would be presumed to be donors, unless they took a decision to opt out. It was being implemented to increase donation rates in the region.

The Government Bill will also delay the requirement for the formation of an executive at Stormont until January 18 next year and delay an Assembly election to April 11 at the latest.

The Government said the additional time would allow the Stormont parties “to focus attention on restoring devolved institutions” as well as providing space for continued UK/EU dialogue over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The DUP collapsed the devolved executive a year ago in protest at the post-Brexit protocol and the party has made it clear it will not lift its block on powersharing until radical changes are made to the contentious Irish Sea trading arrangements.

Mr Heaton-Harris said: “The people of Northern Ireland deserve to have a fully functioning devolved Government working on the important issues impacting them and achieving this remains my top priority.

“This Bill creates the time and space needed to focus attention on restoring Stormont and for UK/EU negotiations to reach a solution on the NI Protocol that meets the needs of people across Northern Ireland.

“The Bill will also see the installation of an ‘opt-out’ organ donation system.

“While this exceptional intervention by the Government is welcome and important, I am disappointed the decision was not taken by locally elected decision-makers in the NI Assembly.

“I will continue to do everything I can to support the parties to come together as soon as possible in the interests of those who elected them.”

six-year-old Dáithí MacGabhann have travelled to Westminster to watch the regulations introduced by the Government clear their Commons stages. (Photo by PA)