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THE UK GOVERNMENT has taken further legislative action in a bid to ensure the full delivery of abortion services in Northern Ireland.
Abortion laws in the region were liberalised in 2019 following laws passed by Westminster at a time when the powersharing government at Stormont had collapsed.
However, while individual health trusts in Northern Ireland currently offer services on an ad-hoc basis, the Department of Health has yet to centrally commission the services due to a political impasse on the issue.
The DUP, which is opposed to abortion, has refused to agree to the issue being tabled on the agenda of the ministerial executive.
The UK’s Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis had given the administration a 31 March deadline to commission the services.
With that date having passed and the Executive currently not functioning due to a stand-off over post-Brexit trading arrangements, Lewis has now moved to introduce regulations at Westminster to break the logjam.
The regulations laid at Parliament by the UK secretary of state remove the need for the Department of Health to seek the approval of the wider Stormont Executive to commission the services.
That means Ulster Unionist Health Minister Robin Swann, who remains in post in a shadow capacity despite the powersharing crisis, can now move to roll out the policy.
Lewis has asked for a “clear and unambiguous commitment” from Swann to progress the issue without delay.
If Swann does not act, the regulations laid by Lewis will also empower him to intervene in the department and commission the services himself.
In preparation for that potential scenario, Lewis has established a team of medical experts within the Northern Ireland Office to work alongside the Department of Health and report back to him on progress.
Lewis said: “Women and girls of Northern Ireland must have access to safe, high-quality abortion services in Northern Ireland, as is their right.
“It is absolutely unacceptable that the Executive and Department of Health have failed women and girls, meaning that they cannot currently access the same basic abortion healthcare that is available to women and girls in the rest of the UK.
“That’s why I am acting to remove any further barriers to delivering services.
“The Department of Health must drive forward the commissioning of abortion services without further delay to ensure that safe abortion becomes embedded into the health and social care system in Northern Ireland.”
Responding to the move, Swann said he would be seeking legal advice.
“The Secretary of State’s written statement and new regulations will be given careful consideration by my Department,” he said.
“I will be seeking further legal advice, including with regard to a Northern Ireland Minister of Health’s legal responsibilities under the NI Ministerial Code.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said early medical abortions up to 10 weeks are currently available to all women in Northern Ireland on an uncommissioned basis.
She acknowledged other abortion services are not provided in the region and said women and girls seeking those services can access them in Britain through funding arrangements put in place by the Government.
The spokeswoman said Swann has been unable to bring forward commissioning proposals to the Executive in the absence of a functioning administration.
Suspect a lot of free NHS tests will be gifted this Christmas!
@Theportobello: U have to book a test & pay for it & it has to be done professionally a family member coming for Christmas PCR £69 Antigen test £28 as she is fully vacinated plus her booster she can use the Antigen test so no free NHS tests kits
@Sheila McNulty: Advised to take an antigen test each day for 5 days – that’s what the article is about – not a professional test
@Sheila McNulty: what antigen tests costs £28?
@john smith iv: The official ones administered by a company which give you a cert to travel. Completed mine yesterday for £35.
Cheaper than a PCR. This article isn’t talking about them, just the standard tests you can pick up for free to do yourself…
@Sheila McNulty: Free walk in centres all over UK now.
Next thing they will be advising, is for passengers to pick up free covid tests before they leave the UK and use them here.
@Peter O Donnell: Why would the Irish government care where people procure their tests?
@Anne Busher Collins: Because unlike here, they are free in the UK. Sarcasm not your strong point Anne?
@Peter O Donnell: already doing it.. every passenger from the U.K. will be bringing boxes of LFTs home for Xmas cos this government is a joke! I have boxes ready to come home with me.
Hahahahahaha!
Hahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaa!
I’ll bring my box of free NHS Antigen tests home for Xmas so!
@Philip Pip Adams: Good man Philip yer Irish family will have a great xmas proper order. Why do you laugh like a hiyena though?
@Philip Pip Adams: ????.say hi to bojo
‘Advised’. More half measures
Why use them? I though they were “snake oil” according to Phillip Nolan… A member of NPHET and the main man in charge of modelling this virus. Somebody has to go here becuse we are going around and around and it’s only jobs that will be lost in aviation and travel. A sector that has already been hammered the last 2 years.
Maybe if they were free like the Uk people
Would use them.
Flights into Belfast will be a lot Busier now I’d say …
Advised!!
If anyone interested I’ve 10,000 antigen tests for sale. Good price. Won’t be beaten guaranteed.
@Paul Gorry: Moore Street hoor
What’s the point of an advisory notice, nobody will give a toss and ignore it. Make it a law or don’t bother Mehole.
So not only is this advice pointless it’s feckin useless. sreems about right.
“……… including the intention to continue to align with the overall European Union approach to travel, and the particular circumstances of the Common Travel Area.”
We cannot align with EU guidelines as long as we continue to have a CTA with a non EU country, with people coming and going without controls or, as in this case, taking tests on a voluntary basis.
We are the only country in Europe which allows free movement of people from a non-EU country.
Either we are in Europe and follow EU rules or we are not.
It’s embarrassing for a so-called independent country to have to automatically align with British decisions a few minutes after they are announced.
@Shedonny: Not the only EU country allowing free movement from a non EU country.
There is free travel between Switzerland and Austria/ Germany/ Italy/ France though Switzerland is part of Schengen.
Is there no omnicron outside ifhe UK or is it just the fact that travellers from UK can grab free antigen tests in pharmacies. This clown doesn’t inspire any confidence in government
I know it’s only advised but I do think most people will follow this
@Peter: Really? What planet are you living on ?
Pure con job
Who’s making these? I wanna invest in their stock
An instance of closing the stable door once the horse has bolted.
Should they not test for five days before coming here. And who will test themselves for five days when here.
Are truck drivers and flight crews and other essential transport workers exempt from these tests like before ?
@Dave Byrne: yes
Which antigen are really accurate? Got 2 antigens (centra) done, both positive. Pcr test next day – negative
“……… including the intention to continue to align with the overall European Union approach to travel, and the particular circumstances of the Common Travel Area.”
We cannot align with EU guidelines as long as we continue to have a CTA with a non EU country, with people coming and going without controls or, in this case, taking tests on a voluntary basis.
We are the only country in Europe which allows free movement of people from a non-EU country.
We must decide whether we are in Europe, and follow EU rules, or not.
In my opinion we should get rid of the CTA and join Schengen.
It’s embarrassing for a so-called independent country to have to automatically align with British decisions a few minutes after they are announced.
have your say