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 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 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 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 report suggests that MPs will have the chance to question the Minister for Northern Ireland, Robin Walker, about the extent of the provision of abortion since 1 April 2020. MPs will have a chance to do so later today (Monday 8 June 2020).
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.”
Precious Life's Repeal Section 9 Campaign has received widespread public support, with thousands of signatures from people all across Northern Ireland collected. The Campaign aims to repeal the law in its entirety and allow Stormont to pass laws to protect unborn children.
In addition to the submissions made in the initial report, which highlighted overwhelming opposition to the regulations and criticised how they were introduced, this second report references further critical submissions.
Abortions for minor disabilities
New submissions from Carla Lockhart MP and Sir Edward Leigh MP have stated that the extreme new law in Northern Ireland will allow abortions to be performed for minor disabilities up to the point of birth.
Carla Lockhart said: “This is discrimination based solely on disability… I believe human being extends to those in the womb (notably, the term is more expansive than the term ‘person’ which some suggest does not cover those in the womb), and allowing abortion for disability clearly does not treat those in the womb with disabilities equally.”
Sir Edward Leigh said: “As a Member of Parliament for England, I find it incredibly distressing that the UK Government legally permits disability-selective abortion at a time period where the law recognises that babies are capable of being born alive. What makes this worse is that the UK Government is imposing a similar discriminatory law on Northern Ireland.”
Lack of protection for women
In another submission, Lord Brennan QC highlights how protections for women vulnerable to coercion have been diminished with the new regulations. The new regulations, he argues, are more likely to see women coerced into abortions.
He said: “Women are less well protected from coercive abortions in Northern Ireland today than anywhere else in the UK. Moreover, they are far from compliant with Article 39 of the Istanbul Convention which requires signatories to prohibit coercive abortion.
“Again, the fact that these Regulations inexplicably do not deal properly with coercive abortion makes them politically and legally important. These Regulations consequently give rise to issues of public policy that are certain to be of interest to the House.”
Lack of conscience protections is discriminatory
The report also slams the lack of conscience protections for healthcare professionals. Precious Life have highlighted how under this extreme new abortion regime, those working in the healthcare sector who do not want to participate in the abortion procedure directly or indirectly, could be at risk of losing their employment.
Lord Alton of Liverpool said the new legislation discriminates against doctors, healthcare professionals, administrative and managerial staff and puts them in a detrimental position because of their views and beliefs on abortion.
Repeal Section 9
Director of Precious Life Bernadette Smyth welcomed the Committee's new report but stressed that the repeal of section 9 must be prioritised by politicians to ensure protection for all unborn children.
"Precious Life welcome this second report from this influencial House of Lords Committee. The report raises some very serious points and we welcome the rightful criticism of these radical and unjust abortion regulations. We are encouraged and welcome any constructive effort to protect human life, especially from those who have the power to scrutinise and challenge this legislation."
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 use this vital opportunity to contact their MLAs and MPs to urge them to work towards the full repeal of this law. We would encourage people to send a clear message that every life counts, and that every unborn baby, by virtue of their humanity, must be protected fully in law, policy and practise."