I hope Northern Ireland women get access to abortion services in Ireland and Britain cruelly denied to them at home

I cannot recall in my lifetime any occasion when so much airtime was given over to debates about the Irish border and the question of exports and imports between Ireland, Northern Ireland and Britain.

At the same time, those living south of the border in Ireland are living through a second, equally historic but very different post-referendum moment, as the legislation to provide long overdue abortion services for the Irish people finally makes its way through the houses of the Oireachtas.

In 2019, I hope that the women of Northern Ireland will at least have the choice to access the healthcare system of Ireland as well as Britain for abortion services so cruelly denied to them at home.

For how much longer must they be treated as a silent “export” from Northern Ireland because their own country refuses to care for them?

Breda Corish, London N16 (Ex-Kerry, Dublin and Limerick)