A senior medic has acknowledged the lives of 26 women have been saved in the past year, after their pregnancies were terminated.

The figure was contained in a report on the first full year of the Protection of Life during Pregnancy legislation which was laid before the Oireachtas yesterday afternoon.

Three of the cases were of women who were shown to be at risk of suicide as a result of their pregnancy.

The others were related to the woman's health - such as physical illnesses and emergency situations.

Dr Peter Boylan is a consultant obstetrician and chairman of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, he agreed the law means the women's lives were saved as a result of the terminations.