Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I want to mention the issue of abortion rights in Northern Ireland, which has not been mentioned so far in this debate and does not seem to feature in the minds of politicians in the North. Our fantastic movement for abortion rights has brought this issue to the centre of the stage for women. Following our repeal referendum, there is a concern that anyone who can become pregnant in the North is getting left behind. Northern Ireland and Malta are the only two parts of Europe which have such a strict ban on abortion that it is not permitted other than in the most exceptional circumstances.

While there is a political impasse and the sectarian parties are not in the Assembly, there is growing impatience, particularly among young people, for action on abortion rights and other progressive social issues.

Over 50 years ago, abortion was introduced in Britain via the Abortion Act 1967. The Act was never extended to Northern Ireland. Politicians united across the sectarian divide to see to it that abortion rights would never be provided to women in the North. The hypocrisy here has been part and parcel of the Northern Ireland state, with people travelling outside that the latter and, more recently, taking abortion pills. Now there is growing demand for action. There is a multitude of campaign groups. One of the groups in Northern Ireland with which I have a connection, ROSA, uses the slogan, "We won't be left behind". That is how people felt in the North when they saw the results of the referendum on repeal and the referendum on marriage equality three years ago.

Once again, the people are ahead of the politicians in the context of social attitudes. In all recent surveys, there has been a clear majority in favour of reform of abortion laws. In all the polls that have been produced, this has been the case. It is mainly the political parties that are left wanting. I refer to the SDLP and the DUP. There may be individual politicians who hold a pro-choice position. Until a few weeks ago, Sinn Féin did not have a position on this, except that of opposing any reform. I caution and condemn any party or organisation that tries to use this issue or any other for sectarian reasons or in a sectarian way. I took part in the Pride march in Dublin. I saw an official poster that stated something along the lines of "End Partition - Introduce Marriage Equality". It immediately linked a progressive social demand with partition or the national question rather than trying to unite Catholic and Protestant people to win social reforms.

Marriage equality was part of the negotiations in recent times. Abortion rights were never mentioned. It is absolutely necessary for a movement to be built in the North to force this onto the politicians' agenda in the same way as with repeal. All the surveys I have seen that were carried out in Protestant-dominated constituencies show Protestants are more in favour of abortion rights. It is not a case, therefore, of one section of the community being more progressive than the other. There is, according to the polls, a serious disconnect between the DUP leadership and the people who vote for the party. It is necessary to build a united movement of young people and women, of all religions and none, to force the issue of abortion rights onto the political agenda and make it irresistible for politicians, particularly the two big parties, to make it happen.

In the context of developments relating to this issue, Stella Creasy, MP, introduced a Bill recently that bought it centre stage. It is expected that an amendment will be introduced in the autumn to decriminalise abortion in the North. The Government of Ms Theresa May could fall before that but it is essential that the legislation be supported and that we support the demand for the decriminalisation of abortion. This would allow abortion to be provided through the National Health Service in the North, and it would create huge demand among people.

As we speak, at least two women from the North are using abortion pills. Others are travelling. The same hypocrisy pertains 100 miles up the road as pertained here. This has to be made a huge issue. A placard stating "The North is Next" was seen in Dublin Castle. We have to assist women and young people to see that this cannot be ignored any longer by the sectarian politicians and parties.

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