THE MATER HOSPITAL has issued a statement to say it will comply with the laws provided for the in the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013.

Following ‘careful consideration’ of the new legislation, the hospital said its priority is to be at the “frontier of compassion, concern and clinical care for all our patients”.

“Having regard to that duty the hospital will comply with the law as provided for in the act,” it concluded in the brief note.

Concerns had been raised last month when one of the members of the hospital’s board of governors and board of directors told the Irish Times that the Mater could not comply with the laws.

“The Mater can’t carry out abortions because it goes against its ethos,” Fr Kevin Doran said. “I would be very concerned that the Minister [for Health, James Reilly] sees fit to make it impossible for hospitals to have their own ethos.”

The Mater is one of 25 ‘appropriate institutions’ named in the act where legal terminations can take place when a woman’s life is in jeopardy.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health has said the Act has still not commenced.

Related: Concern over whether hospital will comply with abortion legislation

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