To not know abortion is still illegal in Northern Ireland...

[sevendwarves]

unless the pregnant woman's life is in danger?

Am I just being ignorant? I know they're Catholic but come on, it's 2011, I assumed it was legal but frowned upon!

You're right we don't pay prescription charges, but we do now face a massive shortfall in funding for some other vital NHS services because of this.

Jesus Christ, people in NI cannot walk around carrying handguns . You can apply for a firearms license in relation to private protection re retired security services, political figures etc.

bubblymummy seriously I would welcome a change in the law, I have 2 young daughters and would like them to have the same rights as other women in the UK whether or not I believe in abortion. Abortion in NI is a civil rights issue, whatever our moral viewpoint is - we all pay taxes, NI, get the same maternity protection/leave, are now going to be paying the same Uni fees. Political parties in NI are too frightened of men over the age of 60 who will never have to face these issues themselves.

thefurryone saying that Ireland is part of the British Isles, while true, is politically very loaded. A neutral alternative is IONA - Islands of the North Atlantic.

Back to the OP's point, NI has a completely different legal and legislative system to England and Wales, as does Scotland. It's a socially conservative society so it's not really suprising that it has unprogressive laws.

its picky to expect people to notice the difference between GB and the UK? Picky?

I'm not even going to bother with that one. FFS.

Buzz I said it's picky to focus on it, not notice it. If you are going to say FFS at me at least read what I said properly.

Its a very important distinction to a great many people, and since this thread seems to need a new title of "how ignorant are British people about NI" it really doesn't matter if its focus or notice.

It does matter, since focus and notice mean entirely different things. You've moaned at me for being inaccurate, but you are also being inaccurate.

the thing that shocked me the most about this thread was that there are people who don't know that lots of groups object to abortion, not just catholics.

For some reason though, catholics always get it in the neck about abortion

It's not picky to focus on it either. Since the difference has been the partial reason for great bitterness and warfare.
Not an issue that you didn't know it though as a great many people don't.

yes because its exactly the same. How high was the bodycount for the focus vs notice wars?

So what is the difference then between UK and Britain except for the fact that NI is part of the UK and not part of the land mass that is England, Scotland and Wales? Also aren't people from NI British citizens? I thought they had the right to define themselves as British, Irish or both. That being the case, then I don't consider it crime of the century to refer to NI as Britain even though I should, for the sake of total accuracy, say UK.

Not the crime of the century no but a sensitive issue.
If you are inclined to learn this is q good starting point

Oh dear Lord.

There's a whole lot of geography needed to be learned by contributors to this thread.

Thanks for the link Ken. I wouldn't refer to Ireland as British(nor did I), but in NI, since people there are British citizens(if they want to be) and it is not part of the ROI, I don't think it's so bad to say Britain and mean UK or vice versa.

so sorry i missed this thread

Wish I had Rannaldini. Have spent far too much time on here and I've missed Eastenders.

Am I the only person who thinks its bloody typical that a discussion on abortion in NI has turned into debate on whether NI is part of the UK etc or not. This is the reason why such unfair and antiquated laws are still on the books here

You are right wiggles. Sorry

I live in norn iron or the north of ireland
As a British citizen of the UK I feel I should be afforded the same rights during pregnancy as any other BC of the UK.

This country is beyond misogynistic and much of this discrimination is hidden behind the masks of religion or politics/heritage
Things are accepted here that are simply astonishing and this is simply another example.

BTW we still are allowed to have handguns as we have an ongoing security issue for members and ex members of the security forces
We also have a very strong target shooting sporting group in NI which has attendees from the south

Yup, let's not make this too much about Geography or History. Abortion is about Women's Rights.

It's to the OP's credit that she assumed the abortion laws in Northern Ireland were the same as the rest of the civilised world and was surprised to find out they were behind.

Lol. What's the team uniform?

It has to be so the good women of R.O.I don't feel tempted to pop over the border for a quick abortion? It is a big temptation and would surely make their lives too easy.

@bubblymummy

The fact that women are regularly travelling from Ireland to Britain to have this procedure done, and shelling out a crap load of money in the process, surely refutes what you have stated!

actually themanwho I have it in on good authority that your idea is a very valid one.

The women of northern ireland have about the same number of abortions to scale as the women of Britian. The women of Ireland have only slightly less. What they do have though is later, costlier, harder and more traumatic abortions. Its not really about stopping women getting them anymore, its about punishing them by making it as difficult as possible/