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16/11/2018
NI Still Needs To Decide On Abortion- Alliance Party
An Alliance party MLA has issued a cautious welcome to the news that women from Northern Ireland will soon be able to obtain an abortion in the Republic, highlighting that Stormont's legislation on the matter is still inadequate.
Ireland's Health Minister Simon Harris announced the availability to Northern Ireland women on Wednesday 15 November.
Following a historic referendum on the matter in May of this year, women living in the Republic of Ireland will soon be able to seek legal abortions after nearly two in every three Irish voters opted to repeal the Eighth Amendment.
Paula Bradshaw said there is no excuse for not legislating to clarify the law in Northern Ireland, which is currently "in breach of global human rights standards".
"I have been clear of my view that abortion services should be available to women in Northern Ireland free of charge," the MLA for south Belfast said.
"Regardless of the range of views which exist on the issue, we certainly should have an Assembly up and debating this, and I have no reason to doubt we would see a large degree of consensus there in favour at the least of allowing abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality.
"It is time those with the largest mandates faced up to the responsibilities which come with those, and enabled that debate to take place."
(JG/CM)
Ireland's Health Minister Simon Harris announced the availability to Northern Ireland women on Wednesday 15 November.
Following a historic referendum on the matter in May of this year, women living in the Republic of Ireland will soon be able to seek legal abortions after nearly two in every three Irish voters opted to repeal the Eighth Amendment.
Paula Bradshaw said there is no excuse for not legislating to clarify the law in Northern Ireland, which is currently "in breach of global human rights standards".
"I have been clear of my view that abortion services should be available to women in Northern Ireland free of charge," the MLA for south Belfast said.
"Regardless of the range of views which exist on the issue, we certainly should have an Assembly up and debating this, and I have no reason to doubt we would see a large degree of consensus there in favour at the least of allowing abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality.
"It is time those with the largest mandates faced up to the responsibilities which come with those, and enabled that debate to take place."
(JG/CM)
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