26 abortions were carried out in Ireland last year, under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act passed by the Oireachtas in 2013.

They included three terminations carried out as a result of a risk of suicide, and nine arising from medical emergencies.

Meanwhile the Tánaiste has denied that Independent ministers are getting separate legal advice about laws on fatal foetal abnormality.

Independent Alliance ministers want to support Mick Wallace’s bill in the Dáil tomorrow, but Frances Fitzgerald says they are not shunning the Attorney General.

“No, it’s not accurate to say that the Independent Alliance said that they were getting separate advice.

“We did have a discussion in relation to the Bill that is being introduced, the Attorney General has advised that it is unconstitutional.”