British government moves to introduce North's organ donation law at Westminster

David Young, PA

The British government has moved to pass a stalled organ donation law for Northern Ireland at Westminster.

The political impasse at Stormont means local Assembly members have been unable to convene to pass the regulations required to implement to the opt-out donation system in the North.

Britain's Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he would table an amendment to scheduled legislation going through the British parliament that would incorporate the organ law.

The law is named after six-year-old Belfast boy Dáithí MacGabhann, who is waiting for a heart transplant.

Mr Heaton-Harris said the British government intervention was “exceptional” and insisted local politicians should be taking such decisions.

“I have been incredibly moved by Dáithí’s story and his family’s dedication,” he said.

“I know that the party leaders in Northern Ireland feel the same.

“In recognition of just how important this issue is, I have decided to bring forward an amendment to the Executive Formation Bill which will allow for the overdue legislation to be made by the NI Department of Health and see this change to the law become a reality.

“I would like to reiterate that, if the amendment is selected, the UK government’s intervention here is exceptional.

“Decisions such as these should be being taken by locally-elected decision-makers.

“I urge the parties to take the necessary steps to tackle all the other vitally important measures, just like this one, that they could deliver in Northern Ireland by simply agreeing to restore the institutions.”

Last week a bid to restore the Assembly to pass the law failed when the DUP once again exercised its veto to prevent the election of a speaker, meaning no further business could be conducted.

The North's main unionist party is boycotting the powersharing institutions in protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Rival parties had attempted to ramp up the pressure on the DUP to end its boycott of devolution, but the unionist party blocked two further attempts to elect a speaker during last Tuesday’s sitting.

The DUP insisted said the regulations required to implement the opt-out donation system could instead be passed at Westminster in the continued absence of powersharing in Belfast.

The party says it will not return to operating devolution until decisive action is taken to remove the protocol’s economic barriers on trade between Britain and Northern Ireland.

Negotiations between the UK government and the EU to resolve differences over the protocol are continuing amid speculation a deal could be imminent.

The opt-out organ donation system was passed by MLAs last year, but the secondary legislation required to implement it cannot be approved in the Assembly due to the current political stalemate.

The opt-out system would mean adults in Northern Ireland would be presumed to be donors, unless they take a decision to opt out. It is being implemented to increase donation rates in the North.

The DUP planned to introduce an amendment to the Executive Formation Bill to facilitate the passing of the regulations.

However, Mr Heaton-Harris has announced the British government will now table its own amendment when the Bill is brought before the UK's House of Commons on Wednesday.

The Bill deals with the legislation required to extend a deadline for holding a fresh Assembly election in Northern Ireland.