The Government is being urged to pass a Bill calling for a referendum on appealing the 8th amendment, rather than holding a citizens assembly.

People Before Profit is launching its pro-choice campaign today to garner support for the Bill put forward by TD Ruth Coppinger.

Public forums and a series of discussions and debates will take place over the next few weeks before the Bill comes before the Dáil in mid-October.

The group will also be involved in the March For Choice on Saturday, September 24.

TD Bríd Smith, says a referendum is badly needed, and there is no guarantee that the citizens assembly will recommend one.

She said: “The citizens assembly is really just a cover and kicking to touch an issue that is very urgent.

“They estimate that around 12 women a day have to leave this country to travel abroad for an abortion and on top of that every so often we to see a major crisis of people who are looking for treatment because of fatal foetal abnormality.

“I don’t think that it’s fair to ask women to wait.”