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Theresa May facing calls for abortion reform in NI | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A number of senior Conservative MPs have called for NI's abortion law to be reformed after a historic referendum in the Republic of Ireland. | |
Dr Sarah Wollaston, chair of Westminster's health committee, said women in Northern Ireland should have the same rights as other UK residents. | |
Northern Ireland's abortion law is more restrictive than the rest of the UK. | Northern Ireland's abortion law is more restrictive than the rest of the UK. |
Downing Street is understood to believe that any reform "is an issue for Northern Ireland". | Downing Street is understood to believe that any reform "is an issue for Northern Ireland". |
Prime Minister Theresa May is facing pressure to act after Ireland voted to end its abortion ban in Friday's referendum. | |
But a Downing Street source said it showed "one of the important reasons we need a functioning executive back up and running". | |
Northern Ireland's devolved government collapsed almost 18 months ago. | |
Mrs May tweeted on Sunday: "The Irish Referendum yesterday was an impressive show of democracy which delivered a clear and unambiguous result. I congratulate the Irish people on their decision and all of #Together4Yes on their successful campaign." - PM @theresa_may #repealedthe8th" | Mrs May tweeted on Sunday: "The Irish Referendum yesterday was an impressive show of democracy which delivered a clear and unambiguous result. I congratulate the Irish people on their decision and all of #Together4Yes on their successful campaign." - PM @theresa_may #repealedthe8th" |
Currently, a termination is only permitted in Northern Ireland if a woman's life is at risk or if there is a risk of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health. | Currently, a termination is only permitted in Northern Ireland if a woman's life is at risk or if there is a risk of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health. |
Rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormalities are not circumstances in which an abortion can be performed legally. | Rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormalities are not circumstances in which an abortion can be performed legally. |
A fatal foetal abnormality diagnosis means doctors believe an unborn child has a terminal condition and will die in the womb or shortly after birth. | A fatal foetal abnormality diagnosis means doctors believe an unborn child has a terminal condition and will die in the womb or shortly after birth. |
However, anti-abortion campaigners argue that doctors cannot accurately predict death, saying that terminally-ill babies "can and do defy the odds". | However, anti-abortion campaigners argue that doctors cannot accurately predict death, saying that terminally-ill babies "can and do defy the odds". |
There is no restriction on travelling outside Northern Ireland to seek a legal termination in another jurisdiction. | There is no restriction on travelling outside Northern Ireland to seek a legal termination in another jurisdiction. |
Last year, the Westminster government introduced measures to help women from Northern Ireland access free NHS abortions in England. | Last year, the Westminster government introduced measures to help women from Northern Ireland access free NHS abortions in England. |
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 live's Pienaar's Politics programme, Dr Wollaston said she would vote to support an extension of abortion rights to all women across the UK. | |
"As this is a devolved issue, if an amendment is not accepted by the Speaker, then there should at very least be a referendum in Northern Ireland on this issue." | |
The Women and Equalities minister Penny Mordaunt, and her predecessors Amber Rudd, Justine Greening, Nicky Morgan and Maria Miller, have also called for reform of Northern Ireland's abortion laws. | |
But Justice Minister Rory Stewart warned against the Commons intervening on the issue. | |
He told BBC's Sunday Politics, the UK Government was acting as a "caretaker" administration in the absence of Stormont, and "that must not be used to make fundamental constitutional, ethical changes on behalf of the people in Northern Ireland". |