The Tanaiste says the Catholic Church is entitled to it's own opinion on the draft abortion legislation.

In a statement today, the Catholic Bishops of Ireland have said the proposals in the Heads of the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill are "dramatic" and "morally unacceptable" and would, if approved, make the "direct and intentional killing of unborn children lawful in Ireland".

They go on to say: "The Bill also appears to impose a duty on Catholic hospitals to provide abortions. This would be totally unacceptable and has serious implications for the existing legal and Constitutional arrangements...it would also pose serious difficulties for the conscientious beliefs of many citizens".

But speaking in Dublin this afternoon, the Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore said the Government has an obligation and a duty to legislate for the common good: