Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the ban on blood donations by gay men; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18022/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) has a public duty to ensure a sufficient supply of safe blood to meet the needs of patients in Ireland. This includes a clear responsibility to minimise the risk of a blood transfusion transmitting an infection to patients. Decisions related to deferral policies are made on the basis of the best current scientific and medical research available and are constantly under review. The exclusion of men who have/or had sex with other men (MSM) from donation is based not only on risk factors for HIV but on other blood borne agents known to be associated with MSM behaviour. MSM continue to be over-represented in donors who test positive for blood borne infections. While there has been a reduction in the number of new cases of HIV, there is a continued rise in the number of new HIV cases among MSM, who are now the majority of new cases of HIV infection in Ireland (HIV Infection in Ireland 2010 - Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) Report). New cases of HIV infection among MSM have doubled since 2005.

The IBTS would require clear and compelling evidence that there would be no increase in risk to recipients from accepting MSM as donors. If any country changes its acceptance criteria to allow MSM to donate, the IBTS would consider the evidence on which the change was made, and observe the impact of such a change on the blood donation test results over a period of time.

The European Commission is undertaking a study project on 'Risk behaviour having an impact on blood donor management'. The IBTS looks forward to considering the outcome of this project which will influence opinion across the EU.