Legislative Measures

Tuesday, 1 July 2025

Ceisteanna (750)

Mairéad Farrell

Ceist:

750. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 771 of 24 June 2025, if she will clarify that “human application” does not mean the application of such organs/tissue to commercially driven research, and the definition used in the Bill refers to ‘extracorporeal applications’ which could include commercial driven research on ‘extracorporeal technologies’; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35558/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024 defines “human application” as “the use of tissues or cells on or in a human recipient and extracorporeal applications”.

This is the same meaning as it has in the European Communities (Quality and Safety of Human Tissues and Cells) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 158 of 2006).

The Act allows for tissues and cells removed from the body of a living or deceased person to be used for human application, generally, on or in a human recipient. The inclusion of extracorporeal applications, means that the tissues and cells can be used in medical procedures or therapies that take place outside the body, using devices to treat or support bodily functions.

The removal and use of tissues and cells for human application under Part 2 of the Act does not include use for research.