The law allowing medical practitioners to refuse to carry out abortions needs to be strengthened, a conference in Dublin heard on Saturday.

Doctors for Life chairman Dr Ronan Cleary told the meeting: “Recent reports have highlighted a focus of the Irish abortion review on the topic of freedom of conscience.

“It is important that we as doctors speak with one voice on the need to uphold and strengthen freedom of conscience, to ensure it applies across the board to all healthcare professionals and that nobody is compelled against their principles to perform an abortion.

“The vast majority of GPs in Ireland are not performing abortions. Even for those who do not describe themselves as pro-life, in their heart of hearts they know abortion is not healthcare.

“Any attempt to erode freedom of conscience and bludgeon doctors into violating their principles by providing abortions against their will would rightly prompt a massive reaction from doctors.”