NI Assembly debates abortion law

Assembly can only pass on advice to Westminster

The Stormont assembly is debating any possible extension of the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland.

South Down Democratic Unionist Party MLA Jim Wells said 79 of the 108 members had signed a petition backing his motion against the extension.

Mr Wells said: "I think most Catholics and Protestants find the idea of abortion morally wrong and abhorrent and do not want it to happen here in Ulster."

Jim Wells: Said 79 of the 108 members had signed a petition backing his motion.

Mr Wells said former Secretary of State Mo Mowlam had signalled she wanted to extend the 1967 Act to the province and while Peter Mandelson has not made any comment, the South Down MLA thought it was important the Assembly put down an early marker.

He said: "There is a hint the government may want to update the 1967 Act in England and Wales and use that to take the opportunity to extend it to Northern Ireland.

"A heavy No vote in the assembly will make it very, very difficult for government to even start this process."

Mr Wells said there had been 5.9m terminations in Great Britain since 1967.

He said the number would have been much greater if terminations were available in the province.

"There are many people on the adoption waiting list so all these children can have good homes," he said.

"There are some abortions carried out in Northern Ireland for medical reasons and I am not seeking to prevent that."

The Women's Coalition has put forward an amendment to get the abortion issue discussed in the health and social services committee rather than in the assembly.

"I don't believe the way to discuss this is a show of hands on the floor of the assembly," said Women's Coalition South Belfast MLA Monica McWilliams.

"Most countries set up some sort of review process into issues like these."

The Progressive Unionist Party is the only party opposing the motion.

The assembly has no power to change the law. It could only be done at Westminster.

Post office cuts condemned

Tuesday's debate follows the unanimous endorsement by the assembly for a motion from East Londonderry SDLP MLA John Dallat, expressing concern at the Government's Postal Services Bill.

The assembly members called on the government to protect the network of nearly 650 rural post offices in Northern Ireland and said the Bill could have a devastating effect on rural communities.

The Postal Services Bill proposes a number of changes to the system throughout the UK including plans to convert the Post Office into a publicly owned company and to ensure that daily deliveries and collections from Monday to Saturday are guaranteed in law.

Although not contained in the proposed legislation, there is also concern over the government's plans to stop paying benefits through the network of sub post offices.

"The proposals could undermine economic prosperity and regeneration in rural areas," said Mr Dallat.

Sinn Fein Fermanagh/South Tyrone member Gerry McHugh said: "We need to protect the rural post office and its services.

"At a time when rural communities are reeling from the cumulative effect of the farming crisis, the under-development of infrastructure and no coherent economic planning the loss of this service will add to the break-up of those communities."

Assembly will discuss allowances

Also on Tuesday, the assembly will discuss allowances which could mean Ministers getting payments of tens of thousands of pounds if they quit or are sacked.

Finance Committee chairman, Sinn Fein Mid-Ulster MLA Francie Molloy has warned that pay-offs which are too generous will make members look greedy in public eyes.

Finance Minister, the SDLP's Mark Durkan, will also lead ongoing discussions on budget allocations to government departments.

In addition, First and Deputy First Ministers, David Trimble and Seamus Mallon, Regional Development Minister Peter Robinson and Environment Minister Sam Foster, will take questions.