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Gay blood: Burnham calls on Hunt to explain NI position Gay blood: Andy Burnham calls on Jeremy Hunt to explain NI position
(35 minutes later)
Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham has called on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to explain his position on gay men donating blood in Northern Ireland.Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham has called on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to explain his position on gay men donating blood in Northern Ireland.
Mr Hunt has begun a legal appeal after a judge ruled it was up to him if gay men could donate blood in NI. The ban was lifted in Great Britain in 2011. Mr Hunt has begun a legal appeal after a judge ruled it was up to him if gay men could donate blood in NI. The ban was lifted in Britain in 2011.
The judge said that Northern Ireland's Health Minister Edwin Poots' ban on gay men donating blood was "irrational".The judge said that Northern Ireland's Health Minister Edwin Poots' ban on gay men donating blood was "irrational".
Mr Poots has also begun a legal challenge to the ruling.Mr Poots has also begun a legal challenge to the ruling.
'Matter of equality'
A complete ban on gay men donating blood was put in place across the UK during the 1980s, but this was lifted in England, Scotland and Wales in November 2011.
It was replaced by new rules that allow blood from men whose last sexual contact with another man was more than a year ago.
However, the lifetime ban is still in place in Northern Ireland, where Mr Poots said it was needed to ensure public safety.
Last October, a judge at the High Court in Belfast said this was "irrational", and Mr Poots did not have the power to retain the ban as it was a matter for the Westminster health secretary.
Mr Burnham told the BBC it was "surprising that Jeremy Hunt had decided to appeal this court ruling and he now needs to provide a full explanation".Mr Burnham told the BBC it was "surprising that Jeremy Hunt had decided to appeal this court ruling and he now needs to provide a full explanation".
"Northern Ireland receives blood from across the rest of the UK where gay men have been donors since 2011," said the Labour MP."Northern Ireland receives blood from across the rest of the UK where gay men have been donors since 2011," said the Labour MP.
"This is also a matter of equality, and gay men in Northern Ireland should have the same rights to help others by donating their blood as gay men in England, Scotland and Wales.""This is also a matter of equality, and gay men in Northern Ireland should have the same rights to help others by donating their blood as gay men in England, Scotland and Wales."
The UK ban on gay men donating blood was put in place during the 1980s.
However, in November 2011 it was lifted in England, Scotland and Wales and replaced by new rules that allow blood from men whose last sexual contact with another man was more than a year ago.
Mr Poots maintained the ban in Northern Ireland on the basis of "ensuring public safety", but after a gay man brought a judicial review challenge, a High Court judge ruled that the decision to continue the lifetime ban was "irrational".
The judge also ruled that Mr Poots had breached Stormont's ministerial code by failing to take the issue before the Northern Ireland Executive.
His Democratic Unionist Party colleague, First Minister Peter Robinson, said the ruling had ramifications for the Stormont Executive and for the Department of Health in London.
Sinn Fein's Caitriona Ruane said she felt disappointed by the approach of Mr Poots and Mr Hunt.Sinn Fein's Caitriona Ruane said she felt disappointed by the approach of Mr Poots and Mr Hunt.
"I'm appalled that Edwin Poots is squandering public money to defend discrimination. Look at the state of the health service, look at his lack of management, people waiting on trolleys and dying in hospitals and what he is doing is squandering public money, defending the indefensible."I'm appalled that Edwin Poots is squandering public money to defend discrimination. Look at the state of the health service, look at his lack of management, people waiting on trolleys and dying in hospitals and what he is doing is squandering public money, defending the indefensible.
"The DUP needs to look at these court cases and accept court rulings on the basis of equality, rather than their own religious or personal opinions.""The DUP needs to look at these court cases and accept court rulings on the basis of equality, rather than their own religious or personal opinions."
The gay rights organisation Stonewall also criticised the appeals.The gay rights organisation Stonewall also criticised the appeals.
James Taylor, head of policy at Stonewall, said: "At a time when we need blood donations right across the UK, it's unfair that gay and bisexual men in Northern Ireland are being unfairly discriminated against with a lifetime ban on donations.James Taylor, head of policy at Stonewall, said: "At a time when we need blood donations right across the UK, it's unfair that gay and bisexual men in Northern Ireland are being unfairly discriminated against with a lifetime ban on donations.
"This is a policy not rooted in modern scientific evidence.""This is a policy not rooted in modern scientific evidence."
Northern Ireland gay rights charity, the Rainbow Project, said it was "disappointed" by the latest developments.Northern Ireland gay rights charity, the Rainbow Project, said it was "disappointed" by the latest developments.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Mr Poots' department said the judge's decision "potentially has wide-reaching consequences beyond the immediate subject matter of the case, and the Department of Health and Social Services has strong legal advice recommending an appeal, and accordingly it is appropriate that those arguments should be presented to the Court of Appeal.In a statement, a spokesperson for Mr Poots' department said the judge's decision "potentially has wide-reaching consequences beyond the immediate subject matter of the case, and the Department of Health and Social Services has strong legal advice recommending an appeal, and accordingly it is appropriate that those arguments should be presented to the Court of Appeal.
"It would not be appropriate for the department to comment further when an appeal to the court is pending.""It would not be appropriate for the department to comment further when an appeal to the court is pending."
In a statement, a UK Department of Health spokesperson said: "We have considered the potential implications of the judgement, both for blood donation and for devolution.In a statement, a UK Department of Health spokesperson said: "We have considered the potential implications of the judgement, both for blood donation and for devolution.
"Following legal advice, we have submitted an appeal against the ruling.""Following legal advice, we have submitted an appeal against the ruling."
The case is due before the court next month.The case is due before the court next month.