The Minister for Health Simon Harris has said that GPs are entitled to “conscientious objection” when it comes to providing new abortion services from January.
However, Mr Harris said they have to provide information about abortion.
The Irish College of General Practitioners is holding an Extraordinary General Meeting this afternoon to discuss issues around the service.
The ICGP says it is in favor of an opt-in to the abortion service.
Mr Harris says a helpline will also be set up to help women find doctors willing to carry out the scheme.
“No doctor, no nurse, no midwife is obligated to provide this [abortion] if they conscientiously object,” he said.
“But I can’t fathom a situation where somebody in crisis, perhaps even a rape victim, would sit in front of a doctor and say ‘I need help’ and the doctor would say ‘there’s the door’.
“That’s not what I know of doctors in this country.
“We have done things to further help, because I don’t want women to find themselves in those awkward situations either, so we are establishing a 24/7 helpline that will be a medically-staffed helpline,” he said.
Meanwhile, a number of Pro-Life GPs walked out of today’s EGM when some of the GPs who put their names on an original letter in October seeking an EGM with motions left over concerns the college had not put motions to the floor.
Over 300 members are attending the meeting which is continuing this evening.