Citation, commencement and extent

1. These Regulations—

(a) may be cited as the Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2022;

(b) come into force on 20th May 2022;

(c) extend to Northern Ireland only.

Amendment to the Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021

2. —(1)The Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021( 2 ) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2, after paragraph (1) insert—

“ (1A) The fact that a matter has not been brought to the attention of, or discussed and agreed by, the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly is to be disregarded when determining what a relevant person could do for the purposes of paragraph (1).

(1B) A relevant person must comply with a direction under paragraph (1) irrespective of whether any matter has been brought to the attention of, or discussed and agreed by, the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly. ”

(3) In regulation 2(3)(e), for “the Regional Health and Social Care Board established by section 7(1)” substitute “a Local Commissioning Group appointed under section 9( 3 )” .

Implementation of the CEDAW recommendations: financial resources

3. —(1) This regulation applies where health and social care has been commissioned which implements, wholly or in part, any of the recommendations in paragraph paragraphs 85 and 86 of the CEDAW Report.

(2) The Department of Health in Northern Ireland must allocate to such health and social care the financial resources necessary to ensure that the recommendations in paragraphs 85 and 86 of the CEDAW report are implemented.

(3) The Department of Health in Northern Ireland must comply with paragraph (2) irrespective of whether any matter has been brought to the attention of, or discussed and agreed by, the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Implementation of the CEDAW recommendations: concurrent powers

4. —(1) The Secretary of State may do anything that a Northern Ireland Minister or Northern Ireland department could do for the purpose of ensuring that the recommendations in paragraphs 85 and 86 of the CEDAW report are implemented in respect of Northern Ireland.

(2) The fact that a matter has not been brought to the attention of, or discussed and agreed by, the Executive Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly is to be disregarded when determining what a Northern Ireland Minister or Northern Ireland department could do for the purposes of paragraph (1).

Implementation of the CEDAW recommendations: financial assistance

5. —(1) The Secretary of State may provide financial assistance to any person for the purpose of ensuring that the recommendations in paragraphs 85 and 86 of the CEDAW report are implemented.

(2) Financial assistance under paragraph (2)—

(a) may be provided by way of grants, loans, guarantees or indemnities or in any other form;

(b) may be provided subject to conditions (which may include conditions about repayment with or without interest or other return);

(c) may be provided under a contract.