The Government’s plans to make abortion widely available has been prevented in at least three maternity hospitals or units because of conscientious objections.

According to a report in TheJournal.ie, five hospitals haven’t been able to implement abortion ‘services’ for what they termed “operational issues”, and four hospitals have had complications in relation to conscientious objection and recruitment.

The Department of Health said that individual staff shall not be obliged to carry out, or to participate in an abortion, but conscientious objection “does not extend to institutions”.

Among the hospitals or units where conscientious objections have hindered the rollout of early-pregnancy abortion services are Letterkenny University Hospital, Sligo University Hospital and Wexford General Hospital.

Various “operational challenges” are preventing the introduction of abortion in South Tipperary General Hospital, the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise, University Hospital Kerry, Portiuncula University Hospital and St Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny.