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Blood Donations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2014

Tuesday, 1 July 2014

Questions (558, 559)

Gerry Adams

Question:

558. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if there is a restriction on citizens from Northern Ireland being able to donate blood; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28391/14]

View answer

Gerry Adams

Question:

559. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if this restriction on citizens from Northern Ireland being able to donate blood is based in law or in policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28392/14]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 558 and 559 together.

The IBTS has implemented a permanent deferral policy in regard to blood donation for people who resided for 12 months or more in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man between 1980 and 1996. This policy was introduced in 2004 following the first confirmed case of vCJD transmission via blood transfusion in the UK. It is implemented as a precaution against the risk of transmission of vCJD through blood transfusion. There is no test for vCJD and confirmation that someone had the disease is only possible post mortem. The incidence of vCJD, and of BSE, in Northern Ireland, while lower than in parts of the UK, was higher than that in the Republic of Ireland.   

Blood, and the products derived from it, are an integral facet of healthcare delivery. The remit of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service is to provide a safe, reliable and robust blood service to the Irish health system. The IBTS keeps its eligibility criteria for blood donation under on-going review, working closely with blood services internationally.

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