Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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523. To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence that was recently submitted to his office by a person (details supplied) in County Cork regarding the Irish Blood Transfusion Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11479/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The remit of the (IBTS) is to provide a safe, reliable and robust blood service to the Irish health system and, in this context, they have a range of measures in place to protect both the recipients and the donors of blood and blood products. The practice of not accepting donors who present after clinic closing times is in place to ensure the effective working of the clinic. As well as facilitating the appropriate processing of the blood donations received at each clinic, this practice ensures that the welfare of people who present on time to give blood is not compromised and that donors are dealt with in a courteous and efficient manner.

Given that the practice of the IBTS of not taking blood donations from people who arrive outside the allocated clinic times is centred on the safety of the blood supply for transfusion; providing the appropriate duty of care to blood donors; as well as ensuring the effective working of the donor clinic and its staff, I am satisfied that the current arrangements are justified.