Legislation Ireland

Donation:

• There is no law regarding organ donation.
• While legislation is lacking, permission for donation is required, either in will, written document, or consent from the next of kin.

Cornea banking:

• The European Directive for 31st March 2004 on setting the standards of Quality and Safety for the Donation, Procurement, Testing, Processing, Preservation, Storage and Distribution of human tissues and cells was transposed into Irish Law by mean of a Statutory Instrument S.I. No. 158 of 2006.
• Due to concerns regarding vCJD, the Irish Tissue bank stopped accepting whole globes / corneas from Irish donors with effect from the 21st of January 2024.  This has been under constant review, and it is envisaged that collection from Irish donors will re start towards the end of 2024.  In the interim, corneas are imported into Ireland from the US.
• The tissue bank also imports sclera, Amnion, pericardium and Fascia Lata for use in ophthalmic surgery.  The tissue bank also supplies allogeneic serum eye drops for the treatment of severe dry eye.   This product is manufactured under GMP conditions and is authorised as a medicinally exempt product .