Northern Ireland Assembly

DUP members called on the health minister to undertake a review of organ donation, on 21 February 2012.

The DUP's Jim Wells said he was happy to accept an SDLP amendment calling for the health minister to "consider all options for increasing organ donations" including a "clinical ethics consultation on the introduction of an opt-out scheme."

Presently, people's organs can only be donated if a person has indicated their desire to be a donor.

Mr Wells said he had brought the debate to the assembly due to proposed changes to the system in Wales.

Wales has consulted on a change to presumed consent organ donation which means that, as in Spain, people would have to opt-out from the register, rather than opting in.

Mr Wells said he recognised there were arguments for and against.

"This is not about pragmatic supply and demand but is about the relationship between the state and the person who has passed away," he said.

Seventeen people in Northern Ireland died between April 2010 to April 2011 whilst on the waiting for list for organ transplants.

There are 288 people waiting for a potentially lifesaving operation.

The debate continued after Question Time.

You can see the concluding part of the debate here.