The Government’s continued commitment to introduce so-called ‘safe access zones’ around hospitals and clinics providing abortion has been described as “farcical” by a Laois-Offaly TD.

Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Carol Nolan TD accused the Minister for Health of being “openly terrified of the pro-choice lobby” over the issue.

Minister Stephen Donnelly had said he was still “fully committed” to introducing such legislation despite media reports that the plan had been shelved.

Ms Nolan said: “The Government position on exclusion zones would be farcical if it were not so serious. It represents the triumph of political pandering over respect for constitutional and civic values and it needs to be abandoned once and for all.

“He needs to stand up for the core values of free speech, recognise the peacefulness of pro-life supporters and stop insisting that he will introduce blatantly discriminatory laws to appease an aggressive and misleading campaign that falsely caricatures pro-life vigils without evidence or substantive reasons.”