The HSE has reported a drop in the number of organ transplants carried out this year as a result of organ donations.
202 organ transplants were performed in Ireland in 2025, compared to 263 last year.
The decrease comes despite the first phase of the Human Tissue Act coming into operation this summer, meaning everybody is considered an organ donor unless they opt out or are included in a so-called excluded group.
Dr Catherine Motherway from the HSE's Organ Donation Transplant Ireland (ODTI) said this year’s decrease is "not due to people not choosing to organ donors".
"None of the potential organ donors this year had their names on the opt-out register," she explained.
Dr Motherway said the Human Tissue Act brings Ireland "in line with international best practice.
"The defining principal of the new law is consent; it is still your choice whether you want to be an organ donor."
The ODTI said the life-changing operations this year were possible because of the "selflessness" of 68 deceased and 29 living organ donors and their families.
Across the three national transplant centres, 140 kidney, nine heart, 15 lung, 33 liver and five pancreas transplants were completed.
This included kidney transplants from 29 living donors.
Some donated organs that do not have a suitable match in Ireland are, where possible, offered to other countries where a suitable recipient can benefit.
This is a reciprocal arrangement, with Irish patients also receiving organs from donors outside this country.
The HSE has urged people to talk to their family members about organ donation and to make intentions known.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said 2025 marked a "significant moment for our organ donation and transplantation services with the introduction of a soft opt-out system".
She thanked all donors and their families for "their enormous act of kindness to transplant recipients, as well as to society".
Reacting to the falling numbers of transplants, the Irish Kidney Association called for "immediate attention and coordinated investment across our healthcare system to address the significant increased demand on services."
It said there were 540 people on the waiting lists for kidney transplants, approximately 20% of the total number of patients currently on kidney dialysis in Ireland.
