10 markers

• Not all churches


  Totally opposed to abortion, would accept it might be the best option for 'hard cases' such as foetal abnormality, risk to the mother or in the case of rape
• Northern Ireland is part of the UK and people living here receive NHS treatment
• It is unfair that women living in Northern Ireland do not have the same access to a safe and free abortion in their local hospital
• The current law in Northern Ireland, only permitting abortion for a limited number of medical reasons, is being undermined anyway, as an increasing number of women and girls travel to England for an abortion
• This practice is also discriminatory as only those with the money to travel and pay for a private clinic can take this option
• Public opinion shows that an increasing number of people in Northern Ireland would be in favour of a change in the abortion laws here
• It is every woman's right to have access to an abortion
• Northern Ireland is still predominantly a Christian society
• Abortion goes against Christian principles, our laws should not permit abortion to take place
• Candidates may refer to the teaching of specific Christian churches on abortion or relevant Bible texts, e.g. Jeremiah 1:1-5
• The 1967 Abortion Act has received numerous criticisms since it was introduced and many people would be unhappy about the same laws being introduced here
• Criticisms of the 1967 Abortion Act


  • It is too easy to get an abortion on the grounds of potential damage to mental health
  • There should be abortion on demand, without the consent of two doctors
• Not all churches are totally opposed to abortion and would accept it might be the best option for 'hard cases' such as foetal abnormality, risk to the mother or in the case of rape
• Northern Ireland is part of the UK and people living here receive NHS treatment. Therefore it is unfair that women living here do not have the same access to a safe and free abortion in their local hospital
• The current law in Northern Ireland, only permitting abortion for a limited number of medical reasons, is being undermined anyway, as an increasing number of women and girls travel to England for an abortion
• This practice is also discriminatory as only those with the money to travel and pay for a private clinic can take this option
• Public opinion shows that an increasing number of people in Northern Ireland would be in favour of a change in the abortion laws here
• It is every woman's right to have access to an abortion
• Northern Ireland is still predominantly a Christian society. As abortion goes against Christian principles, our laws should not permit abortion to take place
• Candidates may refer to the teaching of specific Christian churches on abortion or relevant Bible texts, e.g. Jeremiah 1:1-5
• The 1967 Abortion Act has received numerous criticisms since it was introduced and many people would be unhappy about the same laws being introduced here
• Some would argue that it is too easy to get an abortion on the grounds of potential damage to mental health, while others say there should be abortion on demand, without the consent of two doctors