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News: Lords Committee once again criticises NI abortion regime in second report

An influencial House of Lords Committee has renewed its criticism of the Government's approach to imposing a radical abortion regime on Northern Ireland.

The Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee has released a second report [[link removed]] highlighting a range of concerns with the Westminster-imposed abortion law now enforced here. The Committee’s role is to scrutinise legislation which parliament has given the Government the ability to introduce.

The report comes following an initial report published at the end of April [[link removed]]which strongly criticised the manner in which the Government handled the public consultation on introducing the extreme abortion law before it came into force.

A prominent concern noted in the Committee's new criticisms is that the abortion regulations, imposed on Northern Ireland by Westminster, have been introduced without the scrutiny or approval of MPs or Peers.

The report also acknowledges that while "no services have been formally commissioned in Northern Ireland" abortion has become available. Tragically, the media reported [[link removed]] last week that at least 129 babies have been killed in abortions in the past two months alone in Northern Ireland, since the regulations came into force.

The House of Lords Committee also raises significant concerns from the Lord Brennan QC, and leading barrister, Ian Leist QC who have questioned Northern Ireland's abortion regime. In a submission to the House of Lords Committee both Lord Brennan QC and Ian Leist QC described the re-tabling of the extreme abortion regulations despite the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly as "constitutionally indefensible."

They stated: “The Government should not have re-tabled but should instead be asking parliament to repeal Section 9. This again is a matter of fundamental legal and political importance that I would suggest must be brought to the attention of the House.”

Further criticisms highlighted in the report include the lack of conscience protections for healthcare professionals; diminished protection for women against coercive abortions; and abortions for minor disabilities.

Director of Precious Life Bernadette Smyth welcomed the Committee's new report and stressed that the repeal of section 9 must be prioritised by politicians to ensure protection for all unborn children in Northern Ireland.

"Precious Life welcome this report. It raises some very serious points and we welcome the rightful criticism of these radical and unjust abortion regulations. We are encouraged and welcome every constructive effort to protect human life, especially from those who have the power to scrutinise and challenge this legislation, said Ms Smyth.

Ms Smyth continued, "The results of the NIO's public consultation on abortion law were conclusive: 79 percent of people in Northern Ireland oppose any form of abortion being legalised here. The NI electorate want to protect all children from abortion, and the will of the people must be recognised and fully embodied in the efforts to challenge this law from our elected representatives."

Ms Smyth concluded, "Precious Life are calling on pro-life people in Northern Ireland to continue to lobby for the full repeal of section 9, and to build on the momentum already present. We must continue to highlight just how radical and cruel this new abortion law is as we continue to see opposition to this law mount."

You can read our full article HERE: [[link removed]]

Yours in Life,

The Precious Life Communications Team

Precious Life PO Box 425, Belfast, BT1 4YF

t: 028 9027 8484 e: [email protected]

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