Traditional Unionist Voice vice-chair Keith Harbinson has ask Jeffrey Donaldson to explain why, if the DUP are unhappy with new guidelines on abortion, his party didn’t see fit to block the proposals at the Executive.
 
Mr Harbinson said:
 
“Mr Donaldson went to great pains in interviews to stress that the Health Minister had the lead role in the production of these guidelines and that DUP Ministers voted against them at the Executive because a number of difficulties which they had remain unresolved. The Lagan Valley MP specifically cited concerns he has about a GP now being able to make a judgment as to whether or not the mental health of a woman could put her life at risk.
 
“However, what Mr Donaldson failed to do was explain why, if his party has difficulties with the proposals, they did not block them. The Ministerial Code makes it clear that three Ministers can force a cross-community vote on any issue. It would appear, therefore, that Mr Donaldson’s party would prefer to articulate a particular view to their electorate, yet lead a somewhat different path in the implementation of their role.  There is absolutely no point in failing to use the structures that exist to their full potential and then crying over spilt milk and looking to shirk the onus of blame onto others.
 
“If the DUP had issues with the Guidance why was it not called in? Surely that would have been the root to take if they had genuine concerns.”