The professional body for GPs has refused a demand from hundreds of its members for a second extraordinary general meeting on the provision of abortion services.

In a letter sent to these members this week, the board of the Irish College of GPs (ICGP) said it had come to a “considered decision” after “careful deliberation, including taking legal advice about the correct interpretation of the rules of the organisation”.

The letter added: “We are very aware of the criticism and anger that exists among some members. However, the college has undertaken a very extensive consultative process with its members . . . [and] The fact that over 300 GPs are providing termination of pregnancy services at this time and that over 500 have completed training is an indication that the college’s decision to provide clinical guidelines was appropriate.” There are roughly 3,000 GPs in Ireland.

GPs who had collected the requisite number of signatures to mandate that an EGM be called under the rules of the Companies Act reacted with astonishment and fury. Dr Valerie Morris of the Medico-Legal Alliance said the ICGP had no valid reason to refuse the EGM and are acting in an undemocratic way to silence the voices of its own members.