Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 June 2016
150. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health his plans to lift a ban on blood donations from gay men and to bring Ireland into line with Northern Ireland, which lifted a lifetime ban in June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18576/16]
View answerHaving reviewed the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) report regarding a change in deferral policies for blood donation by men who have sex with men, I am accepting their recommendation to reduce the current lifelong ban from donating blood to a one-year deferral, and also to defer those with a history of a sexually transmitted infection for five years after that infection. The change to a one-year deferral, when implemented, will bring Ireland in to line with a similar deferral policy to commence in September this year in Northern Ireland and similar policies which are in place in a number of other European countries and elsewhere.
I have asked the IBTS to continue to engage with my officials on the development of a robust plan to support the implementation of this change in blood donation policy and to communicate the policy change, its rationale and its implications, clearly to all potential blood donors, recipients of blood products and the general public. I will announce a date for implementation of the amended policy once the implementation plan is agreed.
