Gay men could soon be allowed to become blood donors in Ireland.

Homosexual men have been banned from giving blood since the 1980s, when there were widespread fears over the spread of HIV and AIDS.

However gay rights groups say the rule is outdated and leads to the stigmatisation of the gay community.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service, which was asked to review the ban, has now handed its report to the Department of Health.

The Department will consider the document and make a decision about how to move forward, with a complete removal of the ban a potential option.

The report outlines three options, as Tiernan Brady of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network explains: