Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
1180. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he plans to adjust the blood transfusion policy regarding men who have sex with men in line with evidence-based practice as has recently occurred in the North and in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42019/21]
View answer1188. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the position on the abolition of the current ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood and the introduction of an individualised risk assessment system for all prospective donors similar to that now in place in Britain and Northern Ireland; when this will happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42047/21]
View answer1223. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if his Department will move to abolish the current ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood and the introduction of an individualised risk assessment system for all prospective donors, similar to that now in place in the UK and Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42113/21]
View answer1234. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health his views on the introduction of an individualised risk assessment system which is not based on gender and sexuality for all prospective blood donors by the end of 2021, similar to that now in place in Britain and Northern Ireland since 16 August 2021. [42160/21]
View answer1307. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1195 of 31 March 2021, the status of the review of the 12-month blood donation ban for gay men, bisexual men, transgender men and men who have sex with men; if an individual risk-based assessment is still under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42409/21]
View answer1313. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if work is underway to end the restrictions on gay men donating blood; the steps he has taken to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42428/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1180, 1188, 1223, 1234, 1307 and 1313 together.
The remit of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) is to provide a safe, reliable and robust blood service to the Irish health system. A major objective of the IBTS is to ensure that it always has the necessary programmes and procedures in place to protect both the recipients and the donors of blood and blood products. The IBTS constantly keeps all deferral policies under active review, in the light of scientific evidence, emerging infections and international evidence, to ensure the ongoing safety of blood and the products derived from it.
The IBTS lifted its lifelong ban on men who have sex with men (MSM) from donating blood in January 2017, when the deferral policy was reduced to a period of one year following their last sexual encounter with a man. My Department has established a post-implementation surveillance monitoring group, which is scheduled to meet later this week. The group will assess the impact, if any, on the incidence of transfusion transmitted infections, following the change to donor deferral policies in 2017. The output of this Group will contribute to the evidence base that can inform future decisions on proposed changes to deferral policies, including any future changes to MSM deferral policy.
The IBTS established an independent ‘Advisory Committee for Social Behaviours Review’ to review the evidence base for donor selection, deferral and exclusion in Ireland in relation to social behaviours that may increase the risk of acquiring specific blood-borne infections. The Advisory Committee aims to conclude its work in September 2021 and submit its report to the IBTS for consideration. My Department will be engaging with the IBTS during the course of this work.
