The professional body representing obstetricians in Ireland says it is monitoring the operation of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act.

The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says it will gather feedback on how the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act works in practice and will share this with Health Minister, Leo Varadkar, to inform his report on this issue next year.

The Minister for Health is due to issue the first annual report of the operation of the new abortion legislation around the middle of next year.

The Institute issued a statement in the wake of the current controversy over the operation of the Act, after a young woman reportedly pregnant as a result of rape was refused an abortion, then went on hunger strike and subsequently delivered her baby by Caesarean section at 25 weeks gestation.

The Institute said it does not comment on individual cases.

"Our members work within the legal framework," it added.

Meanwhile, the Master of the Rotunda Hospital, Dr Sam Coulter Smith, has called for another referendum on abortion to remove confusion around the areas of pregnancy as a result of rape or incest and where there is congenital malformation.

"As clinicians we want to be in a position where we can support women in their choices. We need legislation around that to protect us, particularly the area of rape, incest and congenital malformation," he said.

He told RTE there was a lack iof clarity under the current legislation such as the gestational age of the fetus up to which termination would be allowed, and the issue of suicide.

Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan said the legislation that was introduced earlier this year was all that was possible under the Constitution, but felt the abortion issue might have to be looked at by a future Government.

Abortion debate reignites as law questioned