BBC News - Tuesday, 25 September, 2001

Lagan Valley DUP representative Edwin Poots attacked the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission because it said the ban on homosexuals giving blood could be discriminatory.

Mr Poots said: "It is a human right for people who are receiving blood to know that they are getting clean blood and blood that has not been contaminated by the HIV virus."

The DUP member made the comment during a debate on an Ulster Unionist motion criticising the commission for alleged failures to address the concerns of both unionists and nationalists in Northern Ireland.

'Disgraceful'

Monica McWilliams, south Belfast member for the Women's Coalition, said Mr Poots' remarks were "disgraceful".

She said: "Let the records show that 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.

'Pro-nationalist, pro-terror'

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.

This means the motion would require cross-community support to be passed.

Mr Birnie accused the human rights body of bias in favour of terror groups.

He said: "So far the commission has given a privileged consideration to the perceived victims of state action, as opposed to the far greater number of victims of paramilitary abuse of rights."

His comments were endorsed by Mr Poots, who added: "They seem to have concentrated work on what they would see as pro-prisoner, pro-terrorist and pro-nationalist programmes."

'Dangerous comments'

However, the SDLP's Alex Attwood said Mr Poots' comments were "potentially dangerous".

Calling on the Speaker's Office to examine the statement, Mr Attwood said it "puts in jeopardy members of public bodies in the north, in this case the Human Rights Commission".

Mr Attwood tabled an amendment congratulating the commission on its contribution to the human rights debate despite lack of resources.

"If we can get our human rights mechanisms correct, functioning properly, defending the rights of citizens and communities in the north, then we will be showing an example to other communities around the world," he added.

Transfusion service ban

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 affects gay men.

It said: "Because there is no equivalent ban on heterosexual women or men who engage in [similar sex acts] with women, this exclusion is discriminatory."

It added: "While it may be difficult to invoke a human right relevant to donation of blood, the discrimination probably contravenes the Blood Transfusion Service's obligation under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to promote equality of opportunity."

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