Politicians and campaigners have slammed the Government’s decision to press ahead with legislation to ban pro-life gatherings near healthcare facilities that offer abortion. The ban is so wide it could even include silent prayer vigils.

The exclusion zone bill intends banning “displaying any item, whether symbolic or otherwise, with the intended or likely effect of influencing a person’s decision to access termination of pregnancy services”.

Aontú Councillor Sarah O’Reilly said the proposals are “totally undemocratic”.

“Everyone should be permitted to peacefully protest and demonstrate against practices or human rights abuses which they disagree with. Abortion ends the life of defenceless human beings – it is only natural for people to wish to protest against such a thing”, she said.

Eilís Mulroy of the Pro Life Campaign said the Government’s plan “sets a very dangerous precedent for denying freedom of expression and the right to peacefully assemble in public areas. The proposal being put forward is a wholly disproportionate response to the risk that a tiny number of people may at some point in the future engage in harassing behaviour close to an abortion facility”.