Reilly urges removal of ban on gays giving blood

In one of his last proposals in office, outgoing health minister James Reilly has called for the removal of a controversial lifetime ban on gay men giving blood.

The deputy leader of Fine Gael, replaced as health minister by Leo Varadkar in yesterday’s Cabinet reshuffle, made the request on Monday to the Irish Blood Transfusion Service.

In correspondence sent to IBTS chair Prof Anthony Staines, the former minister said the lifetime ban (in place for decades due to fears donated blood could cause HIV infections) must be “reviewed”.