Dr Aoife Mullally has been appointed the clinical lead on termination services for the HSE.

It comes on the anniversary of abortions being made available in Ireland - with just 350 GPs across the country providing the procedures.

Dr Mullally has worked in maternity wards in the Coombe and in Portlaoise.

Health Minister Simon Harris said the appointment was a significant step in the process of termination services 'embedding and evolving'.

He said: “When we started this service, we had fewer than 170 GPs but this has doubled to over 340. All our maternity hospitals are providing termination of pregnancy care. Ten are providing the full range of services.

“Throughout 2020, we want to expand the service further and I will work with Dr Mullally, the HSE and the HSE Board to ensure we continue to evolve this vital service in our health service.”

Orla O'Connor, from the National Women's Council of Ireland, has welcomed the appointment of Dr Mullally - but said there's more to do.

She explained: "The National Women's Council had been calling for a lead to be appointed.

"We're a year in now of the abortion servcies being provided and we really feel that the leadership piece is absolutely necessary in terms of rolling out full and comprehensive services throughout the country.

"It's an important announcement today and one that we feel is long overdue."