Leo Varadkar favours lifting gay male blood donor ban

Varadkar claims 12-month deferral for donations would bring Ireland into line with other countries

The 30-year-old ban on gay men donating blood should be lifted, Health Minister Leo Varadkar has signalled.

Mr Varadkar, who said he came out as gay partly so that his decision on a change of policy in this area would be transparent, insisted he would await expert opinion before making a final decision on the issue.