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15/10/2012
Poots: Abortion Clinic 'Will Be Regulated'
Health Minister Edwin Poots has said the new controversial Marie Stopes abortion clinic will be regulated.
The Minister was talking on BBC Northern Ireland’s Sunday Politics Show.
He said he was taking legal advice as to how the first private abortion clinic in Northern Ireland should be regulated. Mr Poots confirmed that the new clinic would definitely be regulated in some way.
He said he was seeking clarification as to whether the Regulation Quality and Improvement Authority (RQIA) will be able to take responsibility for the regulation.
The Marie Stopes Clinic is due to open in Belfast on 18 October.
"I think it has to be regulated, but it will be regulated one way or the other, either through the police or ourselves, it will be regulated,” the Minister told the BBC.
"But the Department of Health would rather be the organisation, through the RQIA, that's doing the regulation.
"We will confirm very soon whether that is going to be the case immediately or whether it's going to take a little longer to put procedures in place."
The clinic has confirmed it will only be acting within Northern Irish law.
Currently, the rest of the UK is covered by an abortion act. In Northern Ireland, abortions can only be carried out in extreme circumstances in which the mother’s mental or physical well-being are being put at risk by the pregnancy.
Abortions may only be carried out in Northern Ireland during a nine week gestation period.
Women from the Republic of Ireland will also be able to avail of the clinic’s services, providing they meet the legal criteria in Northern Ireland.
(IT/GK)
The Minister was talking on BBC Northern Ireland’s Sunday Politics Show.
He said he was taking legal advice as to how the first private abortion clinic in Northern Ireland should be regulated. Mr Poots confirmed that the new clinic would definitely be regulated in some way.
He said he was seeking clarification as to whether the Regulation Quality and Improvement Authority (RQIA) will be able to take responsibility for the regulation.
The Marie Stopes Clinic is due to open in Belfast on 18 October.
"I think it has to be regulated, but it will be regulated one way or the other, either through the police or ourselves, it will be regulated,” the Minister told the BBC.
"But the Department of Health would rather be the organisation, through the RQIA, that's doing the regulation.
"We will confirm very soon whether that is going to be the case immediately or whether it's going to take a little longer to put procedures in place."
The clinic has confirmed it will only be acting within Northern Irish law.
Currently, the rest of the UK is covered by an abortion act. In Northern Ireland, abortions can only be carried out in extreme circumstances in which the mother’s mental or physical well-being are being put at risk by the pregnancy.
Abortions may only be carried out in Northern Ireland during a nine week gestation period.
Women from the Republic of Ireland will also be able to avail of the clinic’s services, providing they meet the legal criteria in Northern Ireland.
(IT/GK)
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