Ireland’s second most senior judge has come out in support of the Association of Judges in Ireland and issued a public rebuke to the master of the High Court, Edmund Holohan.

The Oireachtas Health Committee will today hear evidence from a range of legal experts on proposals to introduce legislation for abortion.

One of the country’s biggest maternity hospitals, the Rotunda in Dublin, had six cases last year where pregnancies were terminated to save mothers’ lives.

Medical and legal experts will meet cross-party politicians to make recommendations on draft legislation for new abortion laws.