Abortion and gay marriage to be legalised in Northern Ireland by Westminster

[A Gerbil]

From the New Statesman:

Same sex couples will be able to marry in Northern Ireland in time for Valentine’s Day.

Under the terms of an amendment to devolution legislation passed by MPs in July, Westminster must legislate for marriage equality and heterosexual civil partnerships if a Stormont executive is not restored today.

The Assembly will meet today to discuss Northern Ireland’s bar on abortion – which will also be lifted if power-sharing does not return today – after the DUP lodged a successful recall petition. But Sinn Féin, without whom there cannot be an executive, will not participate.

For those not au fait with British politics, Northern Ireland has her own assembly which meets in Stormont. However due to the sectarian nature of the country they have not sat for a couple of years, I think, and are therefore being governed from Westminster who have chosen to pass the above mentioned legislation.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Good for them.

 

[jayem]

I'm not familiar with legislative proceedings in Northern Ireland. But I know it's part of the UK, and an entirely different country than the Republic of Ireland. So I would expect its laws would be similar to those of England, Scotland, and Wales.

And the Republic of Ireland amended its Constitution so that early term elective abortion is now legal. Which went into effect this year, as I recall.

 

[Goonie]

I'm not familiar with legislative proceedings in Northern Ireland. But I know it's part of the UK, and an entirely different country than the Republic of Ireland. So I would expect its laws would be similar to those of England, Scotland, and Wales.

And the Republic of Ireland amended its Constitution so that early term elective abortion is now legal. Which went into effect this year, as I recall.

Wales Scotland, and Northern Ireland have devolved parliaments, with some control over domestic law, though for the past few years Northern Ireland has been run from Westminster due to the collapse of power sharing arrangements in Northern Ireland.

 

[KarateCowboy]

Some people still don't believe all humans are equal. Such bigotry.

“Every human being alive today and, as far as is known scientifically, every human being that ever existed, began his or her unique existence in this manner, i.e., as one cell. If this first cell or any subsequent configuration of cells perishes, the individual dies, ceasing to exist in matter as a living being. There are no known exceptions to this rule in the field of human biology.” Human Life and Health Care Ethics, Vol. 2

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

Some people still don't believe all humans are equal. Such bigotry.

“Every human being alive today and, as far as is known scientifically, every human being that ever existed, began his or her unique existence in this manner, i.e., as one cell. If this first cell or any subsequent configuration of cells perishes, the individual dies, ceasing to exist in matter as a living being. There are no known exceptions to this rule in the field of human biology.” Human Life and Health Care Ethics, Vol. 2

No, I don't consider a fetus a human. There is a potential in 7 or 8 months. But still it's non of our business. It's not like we can take care or care about the born.

 

[FireDragon76]

No, I don't consider a fetus a human. There is a potential in 7 or 8 months. But still it's non of our business. It's not like we can take care or care about the born.

For me, it's an issue of equality of bodily autonomy between the sexes under the law. Debates about fetal personhood are a legal red herring.