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LAST UPDATE | 16 Mar 2021
SINN FÉIN LEADER Mary Lou McDonald has said her party abstained on a bill passed in the Northern Ireland Assembly seeking to tighten the limits on terminating a pregnancy because it was a “stunt” by unionists to obstruct abortion services.
A doctor’s organisation has said it was “deeply saddened” the Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill that would remove non-fatal fetal impairment as a grounds for an abortion, had been passed.
The bill would amend the Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020 and impact terminations after 24 weeks where the fetus has a non-fatal disability.
The bill passed its second stage in the Assembly by 48 votes to 12, with 27 abstentions.
Sinn Féin abstained from voting on the bill, with Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill saying that the Assembly’s priority should be on commissioning services for those who need them.
Asked today about the criticism relating to inconsistencies in Sinn Féin policy on abortion, and for abstaining on the bill, the Sinn Fein leader said the bill was a “stunt” by the DUP, stating their overall approach is to block the commissioning of abortion services, “full stop”.
She said the bill was being used “as a mechanism… to pit people with disabilities or people with with children with disabilities, against vulnerable women and couples”.
“We’re not playing that game with them. We are not going down that rabbit hole with them. The discussions have been had, the law has been passed, the services need to be commissioned,” she said.
Northern Ireland’s laws on abortion were changed by MPs at Westminster in 2019 while the Stormont administration was collapsed.
Currently, the laws allow abortion in all circumstances up to 12 weeks, and it is permitted up to 24 weeks if there is a risk to the woman’s physical or mental health.
In cases of fatal fetal abnormality or a serious physical or mental impairment that would cause a serious disability, there is no time limit in place. Abortions after 24 weeks in those circumstances are uncommon.
McDonald said her party’s position on abortion has been consistent, North and South of the border.
“We want the same legislative framework and regime to apply for the whole island. It is an utter disgrace that the DUP and the Ulster unionist have blocked the commissioning of abortion services, that’s completely unacceptable to us,” she said, adding that the matter was being raised with the Executive this afternoon.
“We expect to see a paper from the Health Minister Robin Swann, we expect the commissioning of these services. That’s what women need, that’s what women are entitled to add to,” she added, saying that the legislation has been passed, but there is a blocking of the services at Executive level.
“Political play acting” is no good to the women who need the services, she added, stating that Sinn Féin will continue pressing for those services.
“We’ve been very, very clear today with our Unionist colleagues that the jig is up, and we expect to see the services commissioned,” said McDonald.
Doctors for Choice Northern Ireland said it was “deeply saddened and disappointed” that the bill passed its second stage in the Assembly.
The group said the bill could mean women are “forced to rush their decisions” on whether to terminate a pregnancy.
“If there is no time for specialist investigations and opinions to be sought before this deadline, once again Northern Ireland would be exporting its wives, mothers, sisters and daughters on the lonely journey to receive healthcare in England.”
Speaking during the debate, Michelle O’Neill said she felt a “deep unease about the narrow focus of the legislation”.
“The private member’s bill that is being debated today does nothing to address the immediate need to deal with that deficit in compassionate healthcare for women,” O’Neill said.
O’Neill said that it is a “human right to have compassionate healthcare” and that “for that reason, the focus of the Assembly “should be on how we commission services for women who need them, when they need them”.
“That should be the focus and priority of the Assembly. Therefore, we will abstain from the vote on the Second Stage of the Bill.”
The bill still needs to go through a committee, consideration, further consideration and final stage.
It has been referred to the Health Committee to be scrutinised.
Members of the Abortion Rights Campaign and Alliance for Choice have criticised Sinn Féin’s choice to abstain from voting last night.
Abortion Rights Campaign co-convenor Helen Stonehouse said that “for Sinn Féin to claim a position of supporting women’s healthcare while refusing to oppose abortion restrictions is disingenuous”.
“Abortion care must be free, safe, legal and local across the island of Ireland – pregnant people deserve to be cared for in their own communities,” Stonehouse said.
With reporting by Christina Finn and Press Association
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2 country party when it suits
@Sam Murray: Spot on there Sam.
@Sam Murray: absolutely. Whatever way the wind is blowing.
@Sam Murray: Have Sinn Féin advocated for the abortion of babies after 24 weeks that have non-fatal disabilities here in the South? Nó, I don’t believe so. I’d say this makes them consistent North and South.
@Seán O’Loughlin: it’s a pretty clear message we can take from this, but you interpret it any way that helps you sleep at night
@Seán O’Loughlin: I don’t often defend Sinn Fein on any matter but they didn’t support this bill as it allows abortions up to birth on the basis of disabilities including Down’s syndrome. This was not part of the repeal referendum in the south and their members only voted on allowing abortion in the circumstances outlined in that referendum.
@Sam Murray: auld Sam sniping away. We know ye, Sam. Ahem…
@Longlin: Exactly, this is consistent. In the polls leading up to repealing the 8th the vast majority polled were against abortion outside of the parameters specified in the proposed bill. Like there has to exist a term limit on abortions they can’t just be allowed way past viability like.
@Longlin: this amendment prevents abortions in cases of non fatal disabilities, like Down’s syndrome so what are you on about and how can you defend SF for abstaining?
@John Buckley: I’m aware that it prevents these and that’s what I was getting at in my post. My response was against people who are saying they should have voted against it. I’d imagine that they abstained more for PR than anything as they didn’t want to be seen to support the DUP on their stance. Agree that they should have voted for it in accordance to their party policy.
There’s Sinn Fein representation for you, bottlers on the tough decisions when they have power
@Adrian™: Not often a defender of Sinn Fein but they had not a mandate from their members to vote on anything more liberal than the repeal laws that were proposed in the Republic before the repeal referendum. For anyone who cared to read up on this proposed bill up north, it would have allowed for abortions rightly or wrongly up to birth on the basis of disabilities such as Down’s syndrome.
@Longlin: trust women no?
@Jane: Personally I’m against having Down’s syndrome as a justification for abortion. It’s not a valid reason in the Republic based on our laws either despite what you may want. Are you in favour of any restrictions on abortion such as term limits or conditions, or do you think it should be completely up to the woman to choose?
@Longlin: There are far more genetic abnormalities than down syndrome unfortunately. Many are fatal, such as Edwards Syndrome. It’s not until you listen to the experience of somebody who has had a baby with a condition such as this that you can begin to understand why this service is available.
@Longlin: it doesn’t matter what I personally think or want. SF said all along to trust women. They got a lot of votes because they said that was what they stood for. If they’re not pro choice that’s their prerogative, just stop lying about it
And SF Let this happen ….. and there’s people in this country wants this sham of a party in Govt here.
@Marcus Mc Cann: SF/DUP two sides of a bigoted sectarian coin.
@Justin Gillespie: not so sure on that one, how many catholic assembly members and mp’s do the the dup have?
They are sectarian first, religious second and unionist/republican last. Pretty clear where this direction to abstain comes from, and it’s not the faces you are on TV.
@Brynþór Patrekursson: so if it pretty clear to you please enlighten us all with your wisdom.
They had week to attack Leo but decided to do it the last few days in the hope that this bill passed through unnoticed.
A cunning stunt, Mary Lou.
Could understand a 24 week limit if it guaranteed that all fetal abnormalities could and would be diagnosed within 20 or 22 weeks. It’s not the case though.
@Tommy Roche: there should be no limits on birth control.
This is crazy it brings them further from the Union????
May Lou…. Worse than the Kung flu.
Mary sure knows all about stunts!!
Anyone concerned with female health care wouldn’t want to be ending their lives before they are born.
@Tom Mullally: do you realise what you just said there? “End a life before it’s born”. Your life begins at birth, not before, so how on earth can it be ended if it hasn’t even started yet? The fact is, it can’t. Life begins at birth. Abortion is simply birth control and once we understand that we can all have much better lives going forward.
Abortion is merely birth control. Free abortions on demand for anyone who wants one.
have your say