Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“The proposals which passed their first hurdle today are quite simply bad law. The law as it currently stands protects both the unborn child and the mother. Decriminalising abortion would leave the unborn child totally defenceless up to the point of birth. Those who argue so passionately about the dangers of women resorting to “back street abortions” if they cannot receive abortions on the NHS are now pushing legislation which decriminalise those very back street abortions.
“At a time when Northern Ireland is crying out for government to address day to day issues in health, roads and education anti-life zealots choose to push legislation on Northern Ireland and indeed the entire UK which removes protection from the most vulnerable”.