Irish minister pledges access to abortion for Ulster women

Harris urges MLAS to address issue

THE Irish government has vowed to give Northern Ireland women access to abortions across the border.

The Republic’s Health Minister Simon Harris made the comment at Feile an Phobail in Belfast on Tuesday night.

Abortion remains illegal in Northern Ireland despite being legalised in Great Britain in 1967.

And the Republic will bring in legislation allowing terminations up to 12 weeks of pregnancy from January 1 next year after May’s referendum.

Mr Harris said: “Last year at least 919 women from Northern Ireland travelled to England and Wales to access abortion services.

“This is a reality for women in Northern Ireland and one I really hope their politicians address.

“Irish people have addressed this issue through our referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment. I now intend to bring in legislation to give effect to this decision in the autumn.

“Whilst I respect the issue of abortion laws in Northern Ireland is a matter for public representatives in Northern Ireland, I really hope this is addressed in the near future.

“In the meantime, I intend to ensure women from Northern Ireland can access such services in the Republic, just like they can access other health services here.” Politicians here have historically been unable to agree on legislation to allow the procedure including cases of rape, incest or fatal foetal abnormalities.

Women from Northern Ireland have been travelling to hospitals in Britain for paid terminations for years.

When the DUP struck a deal to support the Tories the issue came back under the spotlight – leading England, Scotland and Wales to offer the service to Ulster women under the NHS for free.

Campaigners for and against abortion in Northern Ireland have been vocal and a pro-choice group had termination pills delivered by robot to a Belfast court in May in a bid to highlight the issue. In June the Supreme Court ruled Northern Ireland abortion law is “incompatible” with human rights legislation.

But the Appeal Court said any change in policy would be up to Stormont, which has not sat since January last year.

The DUP is firmly opposed to any change in law on abortion while Sinn Fein is in favour of reform.

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