Agenda item

Proposed by Alderman Kingston

Seconded by Councillor Bunting

“This Council deeply regrets the recent amendment of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill at Westminster to include the imposition of major changes to abortion law in Northern Ireland. The immediate implications of this Bill are that abortion on request will be legalised to the point of viability and potentially beyond, up to 28 weeks depending on legal interpretation.

Council notes that no consultation took place with the people of Northern Ireland on the amendments at Westminster related to the Abortion clause. The process which led to this section being passed into law was deeply flawed and has significant detrimental consequences for devolution and for local people.

We consider this course of action goes far beyond the public conversation which has been happening in Northern Ireland over recent years about amending the law to allow abortion in cases of life-limiting conditions deemed fatal before, during or shortly after birth. This Council recognises that a restored Northern Ireland Assembly would consider these cases within its own legislative remit and that is where these matters should be determined.

Council agrees to write to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Julian Smith MP, to express our strong opposition to this over-riding of devolved legislation on this fundamental matter of conscience”.

(To be debated by the Council)

In accordance with notice on the agenda, Alderman Kingston proposed:

“This Council deeply regrets the recent amendment of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill at Westminster to include the imposition of major changes to abortion law in Northern Ireland. The immediate implications of this Bill are that abortion on request will be legalised to the point of viability and potentially beyond, up to 28 weeks depending on legal interpretation.

Council notes that no consultation took place with the people of Northern Ireland on the amendments at Westminster related to the Abortion clause. The process which led to this section being passed into law was deeply flawed and has significant detrimental consequences for devolution and for local people.

We consider this course of action goes far beyond the public conversation which has been happening in Northern Ireland over recent years about amending the law to allow abortion in cases of life-limiting conditions deemed fatal before, during or shortly after birth. This Council recognises that a restored Northern Ireland Assembly would consider these cases within its own legislative remit and that is where these matters should be determined.

Council agrees to write to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Julian Smith MP, to express our strong opposition to this over-riding of devolved legislation on this fundamental matter of conscience”.

The motion was seconded by CouncillorBunting.

Amendment

            Moved by Councillor Canavan,

            Seconded by Councillor Black,

            That the words after “This Council” be deleted and the additional paragraph be added to the motion, namely:

“Calls for the Assembly to be re-established immediately, on the basis of rights and equality, and provide modern health care for women, including terminations where a woman’s life, health or mental health is at risk and in cases of fatal foetal abnormality and sexual crime.”

            On a recorded vote, seventeen Members voted for the amendment, thirty-three against, with two no votes, and it was declared lost.

Further Amendment

            Moved by Councillor Groogan,

            Seconded by Councillor Ferguson,

            That the words after “This Council” be deleted and the additional paragraph be added to the motion, namely:

“warmly welcomes the recent amendment of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill at Westminster which includes major changes to the abortion law and equal marriage in Northern Ireland. Council notes that a number of consultations have taken place with the people of Northern Ireland related to Abortion and Equal marriage, including the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey and the Amnesty International Survey, both of which showed significant levels of support for these changes. The absence of a functioning Assembly has led to the situation where Westminster has taken the brave decision to legislate to ensure our laws are human rights compliant and that people in Northern Ireland have the same rights as those elsewhere in the UK. This Council recognises that a restored Northern Ireland Assembly would consider these pieces of legislation were it to be restored and can do so when that happens. Council agrees to write to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt. Hon Julian Smith MP, to express our strong support for both abortion and equal marriage legislation.”

            On a recorded vote, twenty-one Members voted for the amendment, with thirty against and it was declared lost.

            After discussion, the original motion, in the name of Alderman Kingston, was put to the meeting and on a recorded vote, thirteen Members voted for the amendment, thirty-eight against and it was declared lost.