The Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar has said the Taoiseach misspoke when he said Ireland voted on three occasions to keep the Eighth Amendment.

It comes as the Government has said the issue will be the first item dealt with by a new Citizens Assembly.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee said last week that Ireland’s laws on abortion are cruel, inhumane and degrading.

Campaigners have called for a referendum on the issue and the Taoiseach has being urged to clarify his remarks in the Dáil.

Minister Varadkar has said it was simply a case of Mr Kenny “misspeaking”.

“In fairness to the Taoiseach, it happens to all of us at the best of times, sometimes we make mistakes,” said Varkadkar.

“The factual position is there were actually four referendums, not three subsequent to 1983. What he said was incorrect and I understand subsequently he has actually clarified that, or at least he says he has.

“So I think it’s just a case of the Taoiseach misspeaking on that.”