The Irish Kidney Association has called for a change in medical practice to allow organ donations following cardiac death to be considered.
The association believes the changes would significantly increase the number of organ transplants.
IKA Chief Executive Mark Murphy said that under the current system, organ donation is only considered after brain stem death has been diagnosed.
He said that in Britain, where cardiac death donors are considered, 31% of its donors come from this source and in the Netherlands it represents 41% of donors.
He was speaking at the launch of organ donor awareness week, which starts next Saturday.
Over 600 people in Ireland are waiting for a life-saving transplant.
Last year, 210 organs were transplanted here from 81 deceased donors.
While a record number of kidney transplants are expected this year, the IKA says that many more donors are needed before levels of heart, lung and liver transplantation can increase.
Health Minister Mary Harney said she hoped to publish proposed new legislation on organ donation by the end of the year.
