NI Peer: ‘Public must be heard on radical new abortion law’

A member of the House of Lords has said that the radical abortion regime in Northern Ireland was imposed without the public’s consent.

Baroness O’Loan called on NI residents to “make their voices heard” and demand that the new regulations are overturned.

The measures which go far beyond the law in the rest of the UK have been met with huge public opposition.

‘Reclaim’

Baroness O’Loan said it would be wrong if the abortion laws were “approved without proper consideration and without taking into account the views of the people of Northern Ireland”.

“It is time for the people of Northern Ireland to make their voices heard again, by writing to MPs, MLAs, the NIO and others demanding that these regulations are not approved.”

She added that the Stormont Assembly should “make its voice heard, to debate the issue and to reclaim its power over abortion.”

Inappropriate

Last week, Northern Ireland’s Attorney General said that the UK Government exceeded its powers as it radically changed abortion law in the Province.

Mr Larkin said: “This is of political and legal significance and, given that the relevant judgement call is best made by a local legislature, it may be inappropriate for the provision to have been so limited in light of the changed political context.”

The Attorney General told the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee it was “disproportionate” to require healthcare professionals in any capacity “to act contrary to their conscience” and that it “would have been possible” for Westminster to introduce broader conscience protections.