Westminster considers forcing NI to comply with unwanted abortion regs

Westminster politicians are looking to give new powers to the Northern Ireland Secretary to force the Province to expand its existing abortion services.

Abortion was made legal in Northern Ireland in March last year and services have been set up by individual NHS trusts. But full nationwide services – as laid out by Westminster in its abortion regulations – have not yet been commissioned.

Minister of Health Robin Swann says the controversial matter must be discussed and agreed by the Executive. But pro-abortion activists are putting pressure on the UK Government to bypass Stormont and force compliance with the unwanted regulations.

‘Vigorously oppose’

The Executive voted in favour of a motion which rejected the imposition of the abortion laws on the province back in June. While this did not alter the law, it made clear to Westminster that the regulations are not wanted in Northern Ireland.

Abortion is a devolved matter

A spokesperson for the NI Department of Health said: “The Health Minister has maintained that the commissioning of abortion services is controversial, cross cutting and outwith the Programme for Government.

“He does not believe that a ministerial decision to commission and fund abortion services would be defensible in court in the absence of Executive approval.”

Roll-back

Part of the Westminster-imposed regulations is already in the process of being rolled back.

The Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill, put forward by Paul Givan MLA, seeks to outlaw abortion on the basis of so-called ‘severe’ disabilities, including conditions such as Down’s syndrome.

Earlier this week, it passed its second stage by 48 votes to 12.