Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-03-31-Speech-3-223"
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"en.20040331.8.3-223"2
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".
Sorry, Mr President, I was a little distracted – Mrs Frassoni was flirting with me there. It just goes to show that on occasions the European Parliament can be a much more pleasant place to be than Dáil Éireann; I have not had that experience before!
We now turn from humour to something quite horrific – the modern equivalent of Burke and Hare, namely the trafficking in human organs.
As medical science has progressed in the area of organ transplantation there is a growing demand for organs, with a resulting problem in trafficking in human organs. This is an appalling and disgusting practice and is a serious violation of human dignity and physical integrity. It also has serious implications for the combating of organised crime, because as in everything else, organised crime has managed to get into this particular area. We know of the involvement of criminal gangs in this quite extraordinary activity.
I am aware that this has been an issue of concern and debate in Parliament. In fact, I commend Parliament because it has been very much to the fore in condemnation of this practice. It is also an issue of concern to the Council and it is important that in addressing this we do so properly and are clear on the scope of the problem. This is a complex and multi-dimensional issue and requires careful consideration.
A proposal for a Council Framework Decision on the prevention and control of trafficking in human organs and tissues was presented by the Greek presidency in February 2003, in the framework of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. The aim of the proposal is to contribute to combating trafficking in human organs and tissues as a form of organised crime.
The draft Framework Decision contains proposals to require Member States to ensure that the removal of an organ from a donor using force, threats or fraud, or the removal of an organ from a donor who has consented because of payment, become criminal offences. Also included as offences are the recruitment, transportation or harbouring of a person where use is made of force or threats or where payment is made for the removal of an organ or tissue. It also proposes that participation by medical or nursing staff in the transplantation of an organ in the knowledge that it has been acquired by any of these means will be a criminal offence. The proposition in the framework document will be quite wide.
The proposal has been discussed on a number of occasions by relevant Council bodies. Several Member States questioned the need for an instrument at this time. It has also transpired that Member States have no precise information on the scale of the problem, within the European Union or involving it as a destination. In this regard, the findings of the Falcone project, which includes a 13 Member State study of the matter, will be of interest. The Irish presidency will continue to monitor Member States’ views on the usefulness of a measure such as this at the level of the EU with a view to establishing whether progress might be made in respect of such a measure.
Turning to the related issue of the legal use of organs for transplantation, very specific issues arise because of the shortage of organs. There is a need to ensure high standards of quality and safety. The Commission has indicated that it will conduct a thorough scientific evaluation regarding the situation of organ transplantation. It will present the conclusions of this evaluation as soon as possible and we look forward to receipt of that report.
I can summarise by saying that at this stage we are very much at the beginning of a process which may well take a long time to reach any form of finality. But the fact that we are debating it is an indication that there is an awareness and a concern about the issue."@en1
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