Until 2016, men who have had sex with other men were banned for life from donating blood in Northern Ireland.

The lifetime ban was reduced to a “one-year deferral” in 2016 following an unsuccessful legal challenge to the policy.

Health Minister Robin Swann said the law would now be further relaxed to allow gay and bisexual men to donate blood if they have just one male sexual partner who has been their partner for more than three months.

Mr Swann said: “I am pleased to be able to introduce this change to donor deferral policy in Northern Ireland, which means MSM [men who have sex with men] in longer-term partnerships will no longer be automatically deferred from donating blood, provided they have been with the same partner for the previous three months and meet the revised medical criteria.”

He added: “Whilst all donated blood is tested for blood borne infections, it is still of paramount importance that all potential donors are honest in their response to the assessment questions and comply with any deferral rules that apply to them.”