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  • Category: Press Releases

    • [Report] Mind the Gap: Marriage and Family by Social Class in Northern Ireland

      Posted at 8:59 am by ionainstituteni
      Feb 13th

      The Iona Institute has just launched a new report showing that a huge marriage gap exists in Northern Ireland (as in the South) between the most advantaged and disadvantaged groups in society. Those in the upper income groups are twice as likely to be married as those in the bottom income groups. This gap is much bigger than the gender pay gap which causes so much concern. The marriage gap must be highlighted and debate. Our report is a contribution to that.

      You can read our report, and what is gap means.

      Download the full report by clicking the link below;

      [PDF Download] Mind the Gap: Marriage and Family by Social Class in Northern Ireland

      Posted in News, Press Releases
    • Response to Labour MPs visit to Belfast to discuss abortion law reform

      Posted at 6:32 pm by ionainstituteni
      Feb 8th

      The Iona Institute is disappointed to hear of a delegation of Labour MPs coming to Belfast today to meet with Amnesty International and the Family Planning Association – two organisations which have for many years been promoting the liberalisation of Northern Ireland’s abortion laws. Abortion is a devolved matter for Northern Ireland and repeated votes of the democratically elected Northern Ireland Assembly have been to retain our existing law – most recently in February 2016. The question has to be asked : why is the Labour party interfering at a delicate time in the political talks by promoting the failed policy of abortion here?

      The Labour Party does not operate in Northern Ireland and its sister party the SDLP has a pro-life policy which specifically excludes the extension of the Abortion Act 1967 to Northern Ireland.

      For 50 years the Abortion Act has operated in England and Wales and the consequences have been severe for mothers, babies, fathers and society in general. There have been 8.8 million abortions – the entire population of London; there is 1 abortion every three minutes; 1 in 5 pregnancies end in abortion; and there is abortion for disability up to birth. An alarming 38% of the 200 000 women who had abortions last year, had already had at least one abortion.

      It is sad to see an organisation such as Amnesty International -which was set up to promote human rights -now fighting for completely unrestricted abortion- ending the lives of the most vulnerable human beings.

      If the Labour party truly had the interests of NI women at heart it would be prioritising the return of the NI Assembly and it would be engaging in a conversation with the many women who oppose the liberalisation of our abortion laws.

      Ends.

      Contact Tracy Harkin – Tel 07531 149891

      The discussion on The Nolan Show earlier today is available here;

      Posted in Media, Press Releases
    • Iona Institute NI welcomes Archbishop Eamon Martin’s comments on Christians and politics

      Posted at 10:05 pm by ionainstituteni
      May 9th

      May 9, 2017 – A The Iona Institute Northern Ireland welcomes remarks by Archbishop Eamon Martin last night on the role of the Church and religion in public life.

      In particular, we welcome his comment that “religion and faith will continue to have an important part to play in the national conversation”.

      We also welcome his defence of religious sisters and priests and the “decades of service” that have offered this country, North and South. As he points out, this cannot be “obliterated” because of some of the shameful episodes of the past.

      Commenting on Archbishop Martin’s address, spokesperson for the Iona Institute Northern Ireland, Tracy Harkin said: “Archbishop Martin is drawing attention to a growing tendency to try and exclude religious voices from the public debate. He said the same in an address to the inaugural conference of the Iona Institute Northern Ireland which took place in March”.

      She continued: “Christianity has a lot to say about the just ordering of society and the common good and therefore is morally obliged to take part in public debate and share its point of view in the same way as anyone else. It is not acceptable to try and exclude the religious voice from public debate simply because it is religious. This, in fact, would be undemocratic and anti-pluralism”.

      Tracy concluded: “Northern Ireland is facing into elections shortly for the Westminster Parliament. The various Churches are making their voices heard and are setting out their vision of the common good. The Churches and Christians of all denominations must and will continue to do this”.

      ENDS

      Notes to editor:

      1. The Iona Institute Northern Ireland is a Christian think tank and advocacy group. It launched its Northern Ireland branch in March. Its Northern Ireland spokesperson is Tracy Harkin. She can be contacted via tharkin@ionainstitute.ie 

      2. Archbishop Martin’s address can be found here.

      Posted in News, Press Releases
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  • Iona NI Board

    PATRONESS

    Baroness Nuala O'Loan DBE, MRIA


    BOARD

    Chair:
    Alban Maginness BA (Hons), LLM, BL

    Secretary:
    Mary Lewis BL

    Board Members:
    Brett Lockhart QC
    Declan O’Loan BSc, PGCE, MBA
    Tracy Harkin
    David Quinn
    Éamonn Gaines


    PERSONNEL
    Leah Gaines, Office Administrator


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