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MINISTER FOR HEALTH Leo Varadkar is in favour of lifting the ban on men who’ve had sex with another man donating blood.
The ban was introduced in 1985 as part of the worldwide response to the emergence of HIV and AIDS but campaigners say it is outdated and stigmatises gay and bisexual men.
The minister is in favour of replacing the lifetime ban with a 12-month deferral period. This would mean gay or bisexual men could donate blood if they haven’t had sexual relations with another man in the past year.
The minister’s favouring of the change does not mean that it will definitely happen with discussions to be held with the HSE’s chief medical officer.
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) produced a report for the minister in which it outlined a number of options on the future of the ban. Either to maintain it, scrap it or introduce the deferral period.
Speaking publicly about being gay last week, the minister said one of the reasons he felt he wanted to go public about his sexuality was because this issue was to become topical after the IBTS report to him.
LGBT rights campaigners Glen have welcomed the minister’s stated stance on the ban, saying that it is not needed.
“The priority is that there is a safe blood supply which has the confidence of the general public,” says Glen’s Tiernan Brady.
“The initial lifetime ban was a blanket approach which was taken at a time when there was very little knowledge about HIV and AIDS. Across the world countries are removing or modifying their policies around blood donation by gay and bisexual men in light of scientific developments and it is very positive news that Ireland is changing its policy now as well.”
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Just wait till this boy has to choose a Nursing home for his Dad !
Yeah Dad, it’s called ‘Shady Acres’. Lots of outdoor activities, you’ll love it!
Fookashima…..or that Callous Attracta kip on Emperor Kenny’s patch!
How in a story about a child that went missing in Japan did you manage to find some relevance to Enda Kenny? Do you honestly have nothing better to do?
This kid managed to survive the bear infested forest for week.
Enda wouldn’t be able to find his way out of a phone box.
Andy, Im just waiting for someone to blame denis o brien.
Cathal……Digicel had no coverage in the area.
If my father had just left me in the forest for 6 nights I would be singing his praises too instead of been sent back for another stint
This story just keeps getting fishier.
Forgive me or I will leave you for a month next time
I hope the lad is playing a long game till the parents are old so he can drop them off in the forest.
Very lucky parents. That’s going to leave a mental scar on the child though…
What a brave little boy! He is a survivor and will go far in life
He wasn’t abandoned in a forest. Really misleading headline. You must might disagree with what he did, but at least try and be accurate with the circumstances.
He wasn’t abandoned in the forest. People never check their facts.
Delighted that all has worked out and the boy was found. All the judge, jury and executioners on here already had the perents hung for murder
Turned boys into men in Greek times and God knows the world is running out of real men….hope this turns into a trend.
Sounds like something a certain Seanad panto queen would ‘filabluster’ at great length and no little pains!
It’s a bit like Sepp Blatter saying “Sepp Blatter is not corrupt, trust me”.
Little brat
I wood too if I was the lad. I woodn’t want to branch away from my family. I’d be a chip off the old block and call my own children Hansel and Gretel.
Handful and Regrettal…… just coodn’t see it for the trees!!
Does a bear shit in the woods?? Of course daddy is gonna say he was forgiven.
Throwing stones at passing cars.
Cmon lads, You can’t do that.
have your say