The Master of the National Maternity Hospital says the proposed new abortion legislation is "restrictive".

However Dr. Rhona Mahony has welcomed the clarity it will give to medical staff. The government aims to have the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill enacted by July.

The new legislation will provide comfort and security to women - according to the Equality Minister Kathleen Lynch. The says the legislation was long overdue.

"I think it will give a degree of comfort to women in the future, and a degree of security as well - to know that when they do get into difficulty that the doctor has both the flexibility and, if you like, the comfort of being able to treat them in the way that they consider to be the best treatment for the woman in that circumstances" she said.

While Dr. Mahony says it will mean medics will no longer have to interpret the Constitution.