THE first sitting of the Stormont Assembly in two-and-a-half years ended in acrimony after a last-minute bid to thwart the decriminalisation of abortion was blocked.
Despite the ongoing absence of a powersharing executive, the Assembly sat after it was recalled by MLAs wishing to protest at changes to Northern Ireland’s abortion laws.
It means abortion was decriminalised in Northern Ireland at midnight last night.
At the start of proceedings in Parliament Buildings, there was an attempt by anti-abortion MLAs to fast-track a piece of private members’ legislation through in a single day to halt the abortion reform.
But outgoing speaker Robin Newton prevented the matter being considered.
DUP Paul Givan MLA had urged the suspension of standing orders to enable the bill to be tabled.
However, Newton said a new speaker would need to be in place before the Assembly could turn to such a legislative bid.
The election of a speaker requires cross-community in the chamber – such support was not forthcoming as nationalist members indicated they would not back any appointment in the absence of a powersharing executive.
The plenary sitting was dominated by unionist members representing the DUP, UUP, and TUV.
SDLP members also attended, but leader Colum Eastwood said his party would not support a speaker if an executive was not formed. Their MLAs then walked out of the chamber.
Sinn Fein did not turn up to a sitting it had branded a circus.
DUP leader Arlene Foster said it was a “shameful day”.
“This is not a day of celebration for the unborn,” she added.
The abortion law changed in Northern Ireland at midnight when the Executive Formation Act 2019 came into effect. MPs at Westminster successfully amended the Government bill in the summer to include measures to end the near-blanket prohibition on abortion and introduce same-sex marriage, with the latter becoming legal in January.
The Government will assume responsibility for introducing new regulations to provide greater access to terminations in Northern Ireland by next April.
In the interim period, women will be offered free transport to access abortion services in England.
The law changes regarding abortion and marriage could only have been stopped if the crisis-hit devolved executive was revived prior to the midnight deadline.
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