Abortion issues to be discussed by legal experts at Oireachtas Committee

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

However the Bar Council of Ireland last night said it was declining an invitation to make a submission at today's hearing.

A spokesperson for the Council said it represents more than 2,000 lawyers and, given the wide range of views on the matter, it would not be possible to represent all of them.

Yesterday's hearings from the medical profession were dominated by the need to bring legal clarity to the situation and the controversial issue of suicide.

The master of the national maternity hospital said that she wants to know that she won't go to jail, while psychiatrists disagreed on whether there was a need to legislate for suicide.