- Written by Jayne McCormack
- BBC News NI Political Correspondent
New organ donation laws for Northern Ireland are due to come into force this week following a last-minute intervention by the British government, BBC News NI reports.
The Law of Dice, named after a boy who needed a heart transplant, was postponed due to political deadlock at Stormont.
However, amendments will be made to the Westminster Bill in the coming days to ensure the new opt-out system is implemented.
Dyce Mac Gavan's father Moultan said it was an “emotional day”.
He said he was excited and “yelled” at Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, who called him late on Sunday night to confirm the Northern Ireland Government's move.
Six-year-old Dice celebrated by singing, “I passed Dice's law!”
Families and Northern Ireland politicians had urged Westminster to intervene.
Mac Gavan said the development came “a bit out of the blue”, adding: “Our dice are changing things for the better.”
He said his family planned to travel to London on Wednesday to watch the bill being debated.
“Today is a very emotional day for our family after everything we've been through over the past few weeks,” he said.
“We feel like we had to move mountains again to accomplish this and we are extremely proud of ourselves and Daito.”
What is Daiti's Law?
Northern Ireland is the only region in the UK without an opt-out organ donation system.
The Law of Dice was introduced in Stormont Parliament in 2021 and passed its final stage in February 2022.
This means that all adults in Northern Ireland are considered potential organ donors after death, unless otherwise stated.
But last month it emerged that additional legislation is needed to define which organs and tissues are subject to the opt-out system.
Heaton-Harris said the government's intervention was an “exceptional” case and was done “in recognition of how important this issue is”.
He said such legislative decisions “should be taken by locally elected decision-makers” in Stormont.
With the Dyce Act blocked in Stormont, the DUP, SDLP and Alliance parties were instead trying to push it through Westminster.
This move by the government is surprising.
Chris Heaton-Harris has said for weeks that the Law of Dice is an issue that needs to be addressed at Stormont.
But now he has taken the fight to Westminster and set a precedent.
That could mean he faces the need to take action on some of the other big issues stuck in decentralization deadlock.
DUP amendments co-signed by other parties aim to change Executive branch formation billlegislation is being moved by the Government to delay the requirement for another parliamentary election if a Stormont executive cannot be formed.
But because the bill's subject matter, or scope, is so narrow, it is unlikely to succeed and there are concerns that it will not be accepted by the Speaker's office when the bill is debated by MPs on Wednesday. was there.
It is now understood that the Government is introducing amendments to the Bill in its own name, a significant move that is believed to have the support of the Speaker.
Unlike amendments submitted by opposition members, government amendments are rarely rejected by the Speaker's Office.
DUP leader Sir Geoffrey Donaldson said it was “disappointing” the government had not acted sooner.
“Some people have tried to use this important issue as a bargaining chip rather than immediately legislating it in the House of Commons.”
Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill congratulated Dyce and his family on their “steadfast commitment”.
“They never gave up and gave hope and inspiration to so many people on the organ donation waiting list,” she said.
The bill could complete all stages in Congress by March 6th.
There will be a three-month implementation period before the opt-out system effectively begins in Northern Ireland, which could be introduced by the start of the summer.
Stormont Health Board originally planned for a spring 2023 schedule.
BBC News NI has asked the Northern Ireland Office for details of the proposed amendments.
Feargal McKinney, director of the British Heart Foundation in Northern Ireland, said this was “fantastic news”.
“This is a testament to the dedication and determination of the Mac Gavan family and all those who have campaigned for so long for this potentially life-saving legislation,” said the charity’s chief executive. Ta.
