A bid to introduce organ donation legislation that could change everything for a boy with a life-threatening condition failed today as the DUP disrespected Mr Stormont.
The plight of Daithi McGovern, who is in desperate need of a new heart, has sparked a stalled parliamentary recall.
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MLAs wanted to finally implement opt-out organ donation laws that a six-year-old Belfast boy and his family desperately needed.
The DUP took part in the recall but refused to elect a speaker, dashing hopes that the Dighty law would be implemented.
Daithi’s father, Martin, who has fought relentlessly for support for his son, said he was “disappointed but not surprised” that his party had rejected two invitations to reconvene parliament. .
He said he was now pinning his “last hope” on legislation being enacted at Westminster, adding that he had been advised by the DUP that they wanted to help make it happen.
“Today is a very sad day for us. It’s Valentine’s Day, it’s Heart Day, it’s Congenital Heart Defects Day,” Martin said.
“There was an opportunity here for a bit of a fairytale ending in terms of Daiti’s Law, but unfortunately it’s not.”
“We’re not going to let this rest, we’re still going to fight, what we’ll probably do now is look at next week’s flight.
“Now we are taking the fight all the way to London.” He said “at this stage” we just need to see the law implemented.
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The latest attempt is the sixth attempt by another party to reopen Stormont, which collapsed a year ago this month over DUP strikes.
The party blamed Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris for the confusion over the Dythi Act and revealed at the weekend that there were no plans to allow Stormont to reopen.
This is due to its hardline stance on the Northern Ireland Protocol, meaning it will not waver until the post-Brexit trade border issue is resolved.
Michelle O’Neill, who was nominated as Sinn Féin’s first minister, said Geoffrey Donaldson’s party was guilty of a “dereliction of duty”.
She said: “More than 130 people are currently waiting for organ donation, 90 per cent of northerners support organ donation and all parties in this chamber support this legislation.”
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath said the continued failure to elect a speaker and get the law over the line was “an absolute shame”.
he said: “How many more times does this place have to say ‘no’ when they should have said ‘yes’?”
Alliance leader Naomi Long appealed to the DUP to “reflect on what is at stake”.
UUP MLA Robin Swann, who was health minister when Dicey’s Law was passed in 2022, said it was “one of my proudest achievements as health minister”.
Daithi, always with a big smile on her face, and her devoted parents watched patiently from the gallery.
“United” problem
Former DUP first minister Paul Givan said: “The DUP supports organ donation, encourages people to register on the register and supports the passing of this bill.”
“But the Secretary of State and the other parties in this chamber are aware of the position the DUP takes on restoring these systems.”
He added: “The Government has legislated on other issues such as same-sex marriage, abortion and the Irish language, but it can also legislate on far more controversial issues than this one, and we all need to We are united,” he added. ”
An opt-out organ donation system was passed last year aimed at increasing the availability of vital human organs.
But without formal permission from Stormont, it will not be able to move forward, as it will only be granted after electing a chairperson.
Northern Ireland is the only region in the UK without an opt-out organ donation system.
