The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act formally commenced yesterday, although doctors as yet have no clinical guidelines on how to operate under the new abortion law.

A working group set up last autumn by Health Minister James Reilly to draw up clinical guidelines has yet to issue them.

The Department of Health has previously said the new law could be commenced before the guidelines were put in place.

The abortion legislation was passed by the Oireachtas and signed by the President last July but had been awaiting formal commencement by Minister Reilly.