The only government funding that is to be protected is for the taking of life
One part of Thursday's Budget Statement from the secretary of state, Chris Heaton-Harris, has passed by unnoticed but it is hugely significant.
In 2022-23 the only part of Northern Ireland public spending which is ringfenced (ie guaranteed sufficient funding) is the provision of abortion services.
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Hide AdSo, the taking of human life is now prioritised over everything else. How did we get to such a position?
In part because the NIO, and others, have taken a very disputable understanding of the UK government's legal obligations.
The absence of a Stormont executive did imply the secretary of state was obliged to produce a budget. But there was no real necessity for him to ring fence the funding of abortion service.
Dr Esmond Birnie, Independent economist, Belfast