I beg to move

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 28 January 2022, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill.

The Business Committee has agreed that there should be no time limit on the debate.

The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill passed Second Stage on 12 October 2021 and was referred to Committee Stage the following working day. The Bill requires the Department of Health to establish safe access zones around buildings that offer sexual and reproductive health services and makes it a criminal offence to harass people in any safe access zone.

The issue of protests outside healthcare clinics came up during the Committee's evidence gathering on the Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill, and there has been a significant response to the Committee's call for evidence. It is planned that oral evidence on the Bill will commence in December.

The Committee seeks the extension owing to the extremely heavy workload in front of it and the large number of Bills that it has to scrutinise before the end of the mandate. The heavy workload means that the Committee has to meet twice a week to be able to consider all the evidence for the Bills and to get them through Committee Stage before the end of January. The Committee therefore requests an extension to 28 January 2022. The proposed extension will allow as much time as possible for detailed consideration while balancing consideration of other Bills.

I commend the motion to the House.

No one else has indicated that they wish to speak to the motion.

Notice taken that 10 Members were not present. House counted, and, there being fewer than 10 Members present, the Deputy Speaker ordered the Division Bells to be rung. Upon 10 Members being present —

Question put and agreed to. Resolved:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 28 January 2022, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill.

Adjourned at 3.24 pm.