Northern Ireland MLAs call for opportunity to Repeal barbaric new abortion law
Northern Ireland MLAs have called for an opportunity to introduce new legislation to the Northern Ireland Assembly to repeal the barbaric new abortion regime, which was imposed on Tuesday.
The horrific new regime, which has faced huge backlash from people across Northern Ireland, allows abortion up to the point of birth for babies with disabilities, including cleft lip, club foot and Down’s syndrome.
Abortion is now available on demand without conditionality for the first time ever the in the UK, meaning sex-selective abortion WILL be available in Northern Ireland on-demand, sparking outrage from thousands across NI.
The permissive new law was drafted by the UK Government’s Northern Ireland Office (NIO) after the UK Parliament voted last year to impose abortion on the province in the absence of a functioning government at Stormont.
Thousands of people showed their absolute opposition to the legalisation of abortion in pro-life Northern Ireland, with record-breaking crowds gridlocking the streets of Belfast in September last year at the ‘March for Their Lives’ to protest any changes to the law. Despite the fact the devolved government at Stormont was re-established in January this year, the UK Government proceeded with forcing abortion-on-demand on the province.
This was in spite of the fact that a staggering 79% of people who responded to the NIO’s public consultation on the law change expressed the view that they were against ANY change to Northern Ireland’s pro-life laws.
Speaking at Stormont on Tuesday, DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley called for the Repeal of the barbaric new legislation. He highlighted that because of Northern Ireland’s long-standing pro-life laws, at least 100,000 people are alive in Northern Ireland today.
He said: “It is an absolute shame on the British Government and a shame on the NIO that, in the midst of such uncertain times and such crisis that we are in, these regulations and legislation can come into effect.”
“I rise as someone who is unashamedly pro-life. I value life from beginning to end, but it seems that while we debate COVID-19 in this place and across this country, many have risen and spoken with great emotion and sincerity about the lives that will be lost as a result of this cursed plague, COVID-19, but, yet, can turn a blind eye while regulations come into place that end the life of the unborn.”
Also speaking at Stormont, DUP MLA Paul Givan drew attention to the fact that the NIO had ignored the results of its own consultation, and had disregarded the will of the majority of people in Northern Ireland and over 21,000 who responded to the consultation.
He said: “Of those who responded to the consultation, 79% were opposed to any change in the law on abortion in Northern Ireland. The British Government, once again, rode roughshod over the will of the people in this country.”
“The abortion industry must be delighted that, in Northern Ireland, there are the most extreme, radical abortion laws anywhere in Europe. It is a travesty that it has been allowed to happen…
“We will seek legislative change so that we have a regime in Northern Ireland that reflects what I believe will be the will of the people on this issue: defending both lives, that of the mother and of the preborn,” he added.
Paul Frew echoed his fellow DUP MLA’s concerns, reiterating the fact that the people of Northern Ireland had been completely ignored:
He said: “In one fell swoop, the British Government, and by extension the Northern Ireland Office, have made a mockery of consultation, with 79% of the people who responded, including myself, being ignored; a mockery of legislation and how it should be produced, with time taken to go through each clause to scrutinise it and be accountable for it; a mockery of our healthcare system; and a mockery of how we help and assist the most vulnerable in our society.
“The most vulnerable people in our society are people yet unborn but who have a heart that beats and a body that grows. We are failing all those people. I say this to the NIO: what you have done here in imposing these guidelines and legislation on the people of Northern Ireland is shameful when you know fine well what the people think.”
TUV MLA Jim Allister also spoke up the right to life of children in the womb, calling out the stark new abortion law: “from today, what should be the safest place for an unborn, namely, its mother’s womb, can become, on a whim, one of the most dangerous places”.
“I urge the Assembly to find time to reverse this outrageous, obnoxious situation and to find voice, and to give voice, to the unborn,” he added.
Even some who consider themselves supporters of abortion have been left shocked and horrified at the extremity of this abortion law. Independent MLA Trevor Lunn, who is broadly ‘pro-choice’, told News Letter the new extreme abortion rules which allow for disability-selective abortions up to birth are ‘grotesque’, ‘immoral’ and ‘not humane’.
The former Alliance MLA said: “Our whole thrust was fatal foetal abnormalities – where there’s no hope of life outside the womb. So to see this line inserted now in the bill was quite a surprise to me.
“It refers to I think ‘serious foetal impairment’ being a justification for abortion right up ‘til full term… There is no reason for that. If a child has an expectation of life, whether it has an impairment or otherwise, as far as I’m concerned there’s no justification for the abortion.”
“It’s open-ended. It’s not defined. Down’s Syndrome is the obvious one. But there’s other impairments that people suffer from which you’re certainly not going to die from.”
“I just find the whole thing grotesque… It’s not humane.”
Not content with the introduction of one of Europe’s most extreme and inhumane abortion laws, abortion-obsessed activists are now targeting Northern Ireland’s Department of Health in a bid to introduce ‘DIY’ abortions to the province through the legalisation of first-trimester home abortion pills.
To stand against the introduction of this barbaric abortion law, please SIGN Precious Life's urgent Repeal Section 9 Petition at this link.