Ireland’s organ-donation opt-out register records a person’s decision not to donate organs after death. Understanding what an entry does, how to change it and which official service to use can help people make their own informed choice.

The system is already in operation. The 2025 commencement order brought sections 1–36 of the Human Tissue Act 2024 into operation on 17 June 2025, including the provisions establishing the register. This guide checks the current public instructions on 19 October 2026; it does not recommend either choice or assess anyone’s medical circumstances.

What an opt-out entry means

The HSE’s explanation of the register says people aged 18 or older living in Ireland are considered potential donors after death, with specified exclusions. These include children, people not normally resident here or resident for less than a year, and people who may not have had capacity to decide to opt out before death.

Where a person has not opted out, donation requires next-of-kin consent. Where a person is on the register, the HSE says their organs will not be donated, their next of kin will not be asked about organ donation and cannot override that choice after death. The register has no closing date.

There is no opt-in register. The HSE advises people wishing to donate to discuss that wish, including any wish to donate only specific organs, with their next of kin. Not having an opt-out entry does not guarantee that donation will happen.

Use the official route if you choose to register

The HSE’s add-your-name page lists three requirements for the online route: age 18 or older, a PPS number and residence in Ireland for at least one year. It directs people without a PPS number, or with registration problems, to HSE Live on 1800 700 700.

Begin on that public HSE information page and follow its Start link if you decide to proceed. Check that you are using the genuine service before providing information. The Press does not register decisions, verify identities or need a reader’s PPS number or health information.

Changing a decision and updating details are different actions

The HSE’s removal page is for someone who previously added their name and now wishes to remove it. Simply reading the page does not change an entry; follow the official process if that is the decision you want to record.

A separate update-your-details service is available to people who opted out in the past and need to amend personal information. Choose the action that matches your intention: maintaining the details of an entry and removing an entry serve different purposes.

Keep the confirmation private

Section 32 of the Act requires the HSE to contact a person to confirm the details when an entry is made. It also says the register’s contents are not available to the public.

Keep any service confirmation securely and ask HSE Live if the result is unclear. Someone reading a general guide should not assume that a decision has been recorded, changed or removed on their behalf. Questions about a particular person’s circumstances belong with the HSE, rather than being resolved by a general article.