Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Since the change in Northern Ireland’s abortion laws at the end of March 2020 a total of 7,681 abortions have been performed in Northern Ireland. The figure, obtained from the Department of Health in response to my written question, relate to the period up to 15th February 2024.
“I have previously established that between 2014 and 2019 a total of 65 abortions performed across Northern Ireland (see here).
“It is important to remember that those who went back into government with Sinn Fein after the Executive Formation Act 2019 did so on the basis of a law which introduced one of the most liberal abortion regimes in Europe. TUV warned against such a course of action.
“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.”
Mr Allister’s question and the Minister’s response are as follows:
Tabled Date: 08/02/2024
Answered On Date: 15/02/2024
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health how many abortions have been performed since 15 November 2021.
Answer:
The Department is unable to provide the information requested from the date of 15 November 2021. However, since the introduction of the Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No 2) Regulations 2020 on 31 March 2020, there have been a total of 7,681 abortions carried out in Northern Ireland to date.