Daithi and his parents at Stormont buildings today
MLAs gathered in the Assembly today in a bid to pass a stalled organ donation law inspired by six-year-old Daithi Mac Gabhann.
But the DUP had already said it would not allow a Speaker to be elected as part of its ongoing protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The DUP has argued the legislation on organ donation in the North of Ireland can be dealt with at Westminster.
Without a Speaker, the organ donation legislation cannot be passed.
All the parties except the DUP and TUV spoke in favour of electing a Speaker which could have then paved the way for Daithi’s Law to be passed.
Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O’Neill said the issue should transcend party politics.
“Over 130 people are currently waiting for an organ, 90% of people in the north support organ donation and every party in this chamber supports this law,” she said.
“There is little else to be said. The power is in the gift of each party and every single MLA to do so.”
Former UUP Health Minister Robin Swann said the bill was an opportunity “not to just save lives but change lives”.
“This bill was one of my proudest achievements as health minister,” he said.
The SDLP’s Colin McGrath said waiting for Westminster to deliver Dáithí’s Law was the second-best option.
“How many more times does this place have to say ‘no’ when it should be saying ‘yes?'” he said.
The North of Ireland is the only part of the UK where an opt-out organ donation system is not in place.
Dáithí’s Law was introduced in the Assembly in 2021 and passed its final stage in February 2022 just before the DUP collapsed Stormont over the Protocol.
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