A group of Northern Irish lawmakers will return to their parliament on Monday in a last-minute protest at the liberalisation of abortion laws, set to come into force after being decided by London for the suspended Belfast executive.
The regional government in Belfast collapsed in January 2017 after a scandal over a renewable heating scheme split the power-sharing executive, amid a breakdown in trust.
Abortion is currently illegal in the province, except when the mother’s life is in danger
With the Northern Ireland Assembly not sitting, the British government in July passed legislation forcing the province’s laws on abortion and same-sex marriage, which is also illegal, into line with those in the rest of the UK — unless the executive returns by Monday.
However, the return of around 30 of the 90 Northern Ireland Assembly members specifically to discuss abortion law is expected to be symbolic.
The majority of those appearing at Stormont will be members of the conservative Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), led by Arlene Foster.
But without cross-party support, a first minister and deputy first minister cannot be elected — the assembly’s first task — meaning the law cannot be blocked.
Michelle O’Neill, the left-wing Sinn Fein party’s leader in Northern Ireland, described the event as “stunt politics”.
“They’re going to discuss issues which they can do nothing about. For me, that’s all about being dishonest with the public,” she said Friday.
Source: Guardian Newspaper
