Image source, NI Assembly

Cara Hunter says recent times have seen discussion of "the harm, intimidation and violence against women in our society".

The SDLP health spokesperson says she feels the bill addresses "a real part of that issue here in NI".

"No form of intimidation, harassment and violence has been or ever will be acceptable," she adds.

Ms Hunter says women have the right to privacy and dignity.

“Neither I nor my party support abuse or harassment,” says Jonathan Buckley of the DUP.

He says he is concerned the bill will not crackdown on “prevalent forms of threatening behaviour at these sites”.

“Anything from a conversation to a leaflet, under this bill would be deemed criminal,” says the Upper Bann MLA.

He adds that “this is an incredibly broad scope by any means”.

Image source, NI Assembly

“There are many people from a pro-life perspective who are deeply offended at the termination of the unborn and therefore they feel so passionate that it is their duty to stand up for the unborn whether it be in democratic settings like this or in community settings as well,” says Mr Buckley.

He says current laws in place already deal with issues around freedom of speech.

Mr Buckley describes Ms Bailey’s Bill as “regressive” and “limited”.

He adds that if implemented it would restrict “hard-fought basic freedoms and values as old as time”.

The DUP MLA says he believes a better way forward would be to enhance “existing tools including the law on harassment”.

Image source, NI Assembly

Sinn Féin's Colm Gildernew chairs the Health Committee.

He says concerns about protests were raised with the committee by chief executives of the health trusts during its hearings on the Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill.

Mr Gildernew says the committee recognises the right to lawful and peaceful protest.

Speaking as his party's health spokesperson, Mr Gildernew says "the protests we have seen at clinics in recent months infringe upon the rights of others".

When questioned by members, why she did not seek to strengthen existing harassment laws raster than produce a private members bill, Clare Bailey says there has been “a targeted campaign against women on the streets of NI”.

“With harassment orders and reporting to the police, this all takes time as well,” says the Green Party leader.

“In emergency circumstances it’s not plausible to go down that avenue,” she adds.

Under the bill, it would be for the PSNI to enforce the legislation through ways such as removing someone from a zone or insisting they stop using any recording device they may have.

“All people, every single citizen, has the right to access health care without fear, without intimidation and in confidence,” says Ms Bailey.

“Staff have the right to do their job without abuse or harassment and we would not accept this in any other circumstance,” she adds.

Image source, NI Assembly

Clare Bailey says she hopes to “reassure” members that this is “not a rushed response” to the number of protests outside family planning centres across NI, but rather to what she herself witnessed while acting as a volunteer for the Marie Stopes Clinic in Belfast.

“What is happening on our streets is a very deliberate campaign of harassment and intimidation against women,” says the Green Party MLA.

She says during her time volunteering she was “spat at, I had holy water splashed on me, I was verbally abused, I had one young woman who was so distressed she ran into four lanes of oncoming traffic to escape the protestors”.

“I’ve been working to produce this bill since first being elected back in 2016,” says the South Belfast MLA.

She adds that there are very different views on reproductive rights, specifically abortion, across the House, but she calls for MLAs to “focus on what this bill seeks to achieve, and that is simply safe access to health care provision for all people and all staff”.

She adds it's not an attempt to remove the right to protest.

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Proposals for exclusion zones outside sexual health clinics and pregnancy counselling centres in Northern Ireland are currently being debated at Stormont.

Under the bill, protests and demonstrations would not be allowed within the zones.

Green Party Northern Ireland leader Clare Bailey is behind the move and said it will protect staff and women accessing services.

If passed, the bill would be the first legislation of its kind in the UK.

Laws allowing for the provision of abortion services in Northern Ireland took effect last March, after they were drawn up by Westminster.

Read more here.

The first item of business is a debate on the second stage of the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill.

This is a private member's bill being brought by Green Party leader Clare Bailey.

The second stage debate is when MLAs get their first opportunity to debate the general principles of the bill.

The content of this bill proposes to set up exclusion zones outside sexual health clinics and pregnancy counselling centres.

You can read the full text of the bill here., external

Speaker of the House, Alex Maskey, opens the plenary session to the public.

This first item on today’s agenda is the presentation of a public petition by Alliance MLA Andrew Muir on a strategy for expanding the electric vehicle charging network.

He says NI’s current network is “the worst in the UK or Ireland”.

Image source, PA Media

Welcome to Tuesday's live coverage of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

This morning, Green Party leader Clare Bailey will be leading the second stage debate on her private member's Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill.

Economy Minister Gordon Lyons will be in the spotlight at Question Time, and later this afternoon we have motions on Cancer Screening for Firefighters and an Education Catch-up Strategy.

The assembly opens for business at 10:30. Do stay with us.