The Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has said there needs to be a debate on what would replace the 8th Amendment before any referendum.

The amendment provides for the equal right to life for a mother and her unborn child.

Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone said earlier she believes it will be late 2017 at the earliest before a referendum on the issue is held.

This afternoon, Minister Frances Fitzgerald said there needed to be an extensive debate before any vote.

She said: “People call for repeal of the 8th…but people would really want to know what would replace it, and what would be in legislation.

“People need to have the opportunity to have this type of discussion.”

Referring to the planned Citizen’s Assembly, she said it would “provide a forum that I believe will add to the debate”.

Health Minister Simon Harris has said the Citizen’s Assembly will be set up within six months. Critics, including Sinn Féin, have said the Assembly is merely a stalling tactic, a claim denied by Minister Harris.