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26/09/2001
Gay blood donation comments slammed in Assembly
A claim that homosexual blood donors could pass on the HIV virus has provoked outright condemnation in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
In a debate tabled in the assembly on Human Rights, Democratic Unionist Edwin Poots for Laganvalley attacked the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for calling for a lift of the ban on homosexuals giving blood.
Mr Poots said: "The commission believes it is a right for homosexuals to be able to give blood. I say that it is a human right for people receiving blood to know that they are getting clean blood - blood that has not been contaminated with the HIV virus."
Retaliating to Mr Poots comments Monica McWilliams, south Belfast member for the Women's Coalition, said Mr Poots' remarks about the rights of gays and lesbians were "disgraceful".
She said: "This chamber should be ashamed that any member would ever make such a comment."
Sinn Fein's Dara O'Hagan said Mr Poots' views brought shame on the Assembly.
"This was an attack on people who suffer from AIDS, who suffer from haemophilia, and hepatitis and unfortunately it's indicative of the backward thinking amongst so many sections of people in this society," she said.
Ulster Unionist Duncan Shipley-Dalton said that while he supported the motion, he wished to distance himself from the DUP member's remarks.
A vote on the motion proposed by South Belfast Ulster Unionist member Esmond Birnie was delayed until Monday after the SDLP's Alex Attwood tabled a petition of concern.
The Blood Transfusion Service's policy currently prohibits men who have had sex with another man from being a blood donor.
In its report on report on gay and lesbian rights issued in August, the commission said that while the exclusions do not name gay men specifically, the ban disproportionately affected gay men. (AMcE)
In a debate tabled in the assembly on Human Rights, Democratic Unionist Edwin Poots for Laganvalley attacked the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for calling for a lift of the ban on homosexuals giving blood.
Mr Poots said: "The commission believes it is a right for homosexuals to be able to give blood. I say that it is a human right for people receiving blood to know that they are getting clean blood - blood that has not been contaminated with the HIV virus."
Retaliating to Mr Poots comments Monica McWilliams, south Belfast member for the Women's Coalition, said Mr Poots' remarks about the rights of gays and lesbians were "disgraceful".
She said: "This chamber should be ashamed that any member would ever make such a comment."
Sinn Fein's Dara O'Hagan said Mr Poots' views brought shame on the Assembly.
"This was an attack on people who suffer from AIDS, who suffer from haemophilia, and hepatitis and unfortunately it's indicative of the backward thinking amongst so many sections of people in this society," she said.
Ulster Unionist Duncan Shipley-Dalton said that while he supported the motion, he wished to distance himself from the DUP member's remarks.
A vote on the motion proposed by South Belfast Ulster Unionist member Esmond Birnie was delayed until Monday after the SDLP's Alex Attwood tabled a petition of concern.
The Blood Transfusion Service's policy currently prohibits men who have had sex with another man from being a blood donor.
In its report on report on gay and lesbian rights issued in August, the commission said that while the exclusions do not name gay men specifically, the ban disproportionately affected gay men. (AMcE)
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08 June 2005
Queen’s to debate future of Human Rights Commissions
The future of Human Rights Commissions in the UK and Ireland will be examined at Queen's University Belfast this week. The Human Rights Centre at the Queen's School of Law, in co-operation with the Faculty of Law, University of Bristol, will hold a half-day conference in Belfast on Friday on the role of both Commissions.
Queen’s to debate future of Human Rights Commissions
The future of Human Rights Commissions in the UK and Ireland will be examined at Queen's University Belfast this week. The Human Rights Centre at the Queen's School of Law, in co-operation with the Faculty of Law, University of Bristol, will hold a half-day conference in Belfast on Friday on the role of both Commissions.
20 October 2005
Human rights central to citizenship - Minister
Human rights are central to citizenship and have an important role to play in moving Northern Ireland towards an equal, just and peaceful future. That was the message from Education Minister, Angela Smith, at today's cross-border conference on Human Rights Education in Dublin.
Human rights central to citizenship - Minister
Human rights are central to citizenship and have an important role to play in moving Northern Ireland towards an equal, just and peaceful future. That was the message from Education Minister, Angela Smith, at today's cross-border conference on Human Rights Education in Dublin.
01 September 2016
Lifetime Blood Ban Donation Lifted For Gay Men In NI
A lifetime blood ban on the donation of blood by gay men in Northern Ireland has been lifted today, 01 September. NI Health Minister Michelle O'Neill announced the policy change in June this year.
Lifetime Blood Ban Donation Lifted For Gay Men In NI
A lifetime blood ban on the donation of blood by gay men in Northern Ireland has been lifted today, 01 September. NI Health Minister Michelle O'Neill announced the policy change in June this year.
02 June 2016
Ban On Blood Donations By Gay Men Lifted
The ban on blood donations by gay men has been lifted. The decision follows the Appeal Court ruling in March which confirmed that it is a devolved matter, and substantial new evidence showing that the risk of contracting HIV from donated blood is lower with a one-year deferral than with a lifetime ban.
Ban On Blood Donations By Gay Men Lifted
The ban on blood donations by gay men has been lifted. The decision follows the Appeal Court ruling in March which confirmed that it is a devolved matter, and substantial new evidence showing that the risk of contracting HIV from donated blood is lower with a one-year deferral than with a lifetime ban.
28 November 2002
Patients warned after blood donor's CJD diagnosis
There are concerns that a small number of haemophiliacs in Northern Ireland and Scotland may have received blood products from a donor who later was diagnosed with variant Creutzfeld-Jacob disease (vCJD). Health agencies in Scotland have written to patients warning them that they may have been given treatments derived from the donor's blood.
Patients warned after blood donor's CJD diagnosis
There are concerns that a small number of haemophiliacs in Northern Ireland and Scotland may have received blood products from a donor who later was diagnosed with variant Creutzfeld-Jacob disease (vCJD). Health agencies in Scotland have written to patients warning them that they may have been given treatments derived from the donor's blood.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
