Varadkar favours relaxing ban on gay men donating blood

The Health Minister Leo Varadkar has said no decision has yet been made on lifting the 30-year-old ban on gay men giving blood.

The Minister has received a policy review on the issue from the Irish Blood Transfusion Service and will now consult with the Chief Medical Officer.

The report gives three options: to keep the ban in place; lift the ban entirely; or introduce a one-year deferral.

In a statement, the Minister said he favoured a one-year deferral, which would bring Ireland into line with many other English speaking countries.

The ban means that a man who has had sex with another male is not allowed to donate blood.

The deferral option means a gay man could give blood if he has not engaged in certain sexual activity within a year of the planned donation.

“My initial impression is to favour a one-year deferral which would bring Ireland into line with many other English-speaking countries, but I will first get advice from the Chief Medical Officer, and hear the voices of patients, before making a final decision,”Mr Varadkar said.

A decision is expected in the coming months.

Saying the ban stigmatised gay and bisexual men, GLEN policy director Tiernan Brady said Mr Varadkar’s comments represented a positive new approach.