In advance of the debate, the Clerk of the General Assembly and PCI’s General Secretary, Rev Trevor Gribben, and the Convener of the Council for Public Affairs, Rev Daniel Kane, had written to MLAs of all parties urging them to consider supporting the motion.
Speaking after the vote, Rev Daniel Kane said, “First of all, I would like to thank all the MLAs from across the political spectrum who supported yesterday’s motion, as it sends an important message to those that live with disability that they are valued and have worth.”
The letter sent to MLA’s pointed legislators to a 2017 report by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which found existing UK abortion laws, regulations and practices discriminated against persons with disabilities. The two ministers highlighted the following concluding observations, which stated that ‘The Committee is concerned about perceptions in society that stigmatize persons with disabilities as living a life of less value than that of others and about the termination of pregnancy at any stage on the basis of fetal impairment.’
Mr Kane continued, “While we appreciate that vote was non-binding and won’t change the current state of affairs, which is deeply regrettable, it was, however, an important opportunity to debate legislation that has been imposed on Northern Ireland, against the wishes of 80% of those who responded to the public consultation, especially as the regulations are yet to be finalised in Westminster.”