Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On 1 February Sinn Féin received a response from the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, regarding Question No. 52 on the new Irish Blood Transfusion Service questionnaire, a form completed by those wishing to give blood. Question No. 52 asks whether the prospective donor has in the past five years taken medication to prevent HIV infection, that is PrEP or PEP. We queried the inclusion of that new question and the response from the Minister states that the persons who have taken medication to prevent HIV, that is PrEP, are deferred for a five-year period. That struck us as remarkable given that this is preventive medication.

I am sure many people will have seen last night's "Prime Time" programme which is timely to this discussion. PrEP is the use of antiretroviral medication which prevents HIV infection in someone who has been exposed to HIV. It prevents the user from contracting HIV with a 99% effectiveness rate. Condoms used for vaginal sex have an effectiveness rate in the high 90% range and for anal sex an effectiveness rate in, I think, the high 70% range.

This is an extra tool in the prevention of HIV. Anyone who can get hold of PrEP is being responsible and is doing good work for the blood supply in this case. However, under the current IBTS policy, a man who has sex with another man is allowed to give blood after 12 months, but someone who has taken extra precaution and extra safety measures now has to wait five years.

The reply to the parliamentary question by the Minister, Deputy Harris, stated that a study in the US showed a sharp rise in STIs in men on PrEP and associated the use of PrEP with a greater likelihood of being diagnosed with an STI. We researched this and the only study we could find was one by Scott and Klausner, which contains questionable referencing and is pretty thin evidence on which to hang an entire new policy. Ireland is the only country we can find that prevents people who are taking PrEP from giving blood.

Before Christmas I attended an LGBTQI community discussion in the Cobblestone in Smithfield. It was organised by ACT UP. It was everything one could hope for from a positive community engagement and discussion.What struck me about the event was that members of the gay community spoke publicly and took ownership of a whole range of issues, from Grindr and drugs to sex and chemsex. Those in attendance wanted to feel more empowered in their sexuality. They came together and it gave them the confidence to speak out and take responsibility, thereby fuelling greater consciousness of sexual health. What message is the IBTS now sending to people who want to be more responsible? What we are asking for is a statement of inclusivity from the Minister of State and the Department.