Precious Life has condemned the Health Minister of the Irish Republic who said he will provide abortion to women from Northern Ireland when the regime is introduced in the South. Precious Life said it was a shocking and outrageous attack on Northern Ireland’s unborn babies and the democratic process.
Speaking in Belfast last night, Simon Harris said abortion legislation in the Republic would be introduced in the autumn with provision made for women from the North.
Director of Precious Life, Bernadette Smyth said, “Simon Harris’ blatant disregard for the right to life does not stop at the border, as he now wants to extend his government’s abortion plans and kill unborn children from the North. Once again we have a pro-abortion politician attacking Northern Ireland’s democratic process – it’s totally outrageous and demonstrates a shocking level of utter contempt for democracy.”
She added, “Abortion is not healthcare. Abortion kills babies and hurts women. Harris’ comments are an insult to the medical profession of Northern Ireland. All genuine medical treatment is already provided for pregnant women here.
“Simon Harris campaigned for the removal of all legal protection from babies before birth during the Republic’s abortion referendum in May. Now he has the audacity to come to Belfast and demand that our laws protecting babies in Northern Ireland should also be removed.
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“Northern Ireland is now the only part of the UK and Ireland where unborn children are protected in law. In 2016, the Northern Ireland Assembly voted against any change to our pro-life laws, so this must be respected. The Government of the Republic of Ireland has no jurisdiction in Northern Ireland. No other government should have the right to dictate our laws as abortion is a devolved issue in Northern Ireland. A recent ruling by the UK Supreme Court also emphasised that abortion is a devolved issue for our Assembly.”
Bernadette Smyth concluded, “Simon Harris has no respect for the fact that laws in Northern Ireland are a matter for public representatives in Northern Ireland. Abortion is illegal in the North. Our laws protect unborn babies and their mothers. This is the reality that Simon Harris and other pro-abortion politicians need to acknowledge as a matter of urgency, and stop interfering in our affairs. Women in Northern Ireland deserve better than abortion. We will continue our campaigns and lobbying to ensure that abortion remains not only illegal, but unthinkable.”
