New Irish bill to allow abortion for first time ever

New law would permit abortions for the first time if a woman's life is in danger medically or she is at the risk of suicide in Ireland.

According to the Guardian, the bill, if passed, includes a list of the 24 hospitals where abortions in these circumstances could take place.

Irish doctors will also have the right to refuse to perform emergency terminations if they object on moral and religious grounds, the report said.

The 18-page Protection of Life During Pregnancy bill also includes a clause allowing medics who intentionally destroy unborn human life to be jailed for up to 14 years.

According to the report, the bill was revealed hours before a final Irish health service executive (HSE) review into the death of Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar.

Her death in Galway University hospital focused global attention on Ireland's strict anti-abortion laws after her widower Praveen claimed she had been denied an emergency termination to save her life, the report added.