Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Since the change in Northern Ireland’s abortion laws at the end of March 2020 a total of 4,136 abortions have been performed in Northern Ireland. Broken down by Health Trust, there have been 1,313 in Belfast, 997 in the Northern, 882 in the South Eastern, 703 in the Southern and 241 in the Western. The figures, obtained from the Department of Health in response to my written question, relate to the period up to 22nd September 2022.
“I have previously established that between 2014 and 2019 a total of 65 abortions performed across Northern Ireland (see here).
“Tellingly, the Department of Health has advised that the reasons for abortions being carried out is not recorded. In this respect, the situation in Northern Ireland is deficient when compared with Great Britain. Data on the reasons for abortions is published for the whole of England and Wales. Statistics on how deprivation relates to abortion are also published. A similar situation exists in Scotland. I am particularly disappointed that this situation exists given that I had asked the Minister two years ago to commit to the regular publication of abortion figures including the reason for each abortion (see here).
“On the only occasion when the public were given opportunity to express an opinion on abortion a massive 79% of the 21,200 responses to the consultation recorded their opposition to the abortion regulations. In spite of what some in the media may try to claim, there is still considerable opposition to abortion in Northern Ireland and there will be many who will share my alarm at the growth in the number of abortions in our Province.”