A “momentous day” but not one for “jubilation” is how Health Minister Simon Harris has described the availability of abortion services from today.

“What we will see is not jubilation because abortion is never a happy occasion for any woman or her partner,” he said.

Some 165 GPs have signed up to provide an abortion service and over 100 have given their details to a 24/7 helpline that opened at midnight, the minister confirmed.

He said there would be many locations across the country where women could access an abortion service.

However, a Waterford campaigner for the repeal of the eight amendment says some cases of fatel foetal abnormality may not be covered by the legislation.

Claire Cullen Delsol became a director with the Terminations for Medical Reasons group, after her unborn baby daugher was diagnosed with fatal foetal abnormalities at 20 weeks.

She welcomes the legislation but thinks it may be restrictive for some families.

“The definition they are using for fatal might be very restrictive. We’ve always considered it to be a condition that will result in the death of a baby during pregnancy, during labour or shortly after birth …the problem is when the death of a baby can’t be predicted…for example some of these babies are diagnosed with conditions that could possibly allow them to live… but they don’t really have a life.”

She says fewer people will have to travel but those travelling will be in dire situations.

Mr Harris said about 80% of terminations would take place in the community and he was satisfied there were enough doctors to start providing the service.

He expected that more hospitals would begin to provide an abortion service as the year progressed.