Abortions are banned in the Republic because the 8th Amendment to the Constitution gives the “life of the unborn” equal status to that of the mother from the moment of conception, unless the woman's life is at immediate risk.

This means thousands of Irish women travel to Britain every year to undergo abortions - or face 14 years in prison if they have one at home.

A coalition of pro-choice groups is calling for a referendum to repeal the 8th Amendment - and more than 47,000 people have signed Amnesty International's petition urging Kenny to take action.

Grainne Teggart, campaign manager of Amnesty’s “My Body My Rights – Ireland and Northern Ireland” said that “women are suffering unnecessarily under Ireland’s repressive abortion laws”.

“Thousands of women are forced to leave Ireland every year to access healthcare services to which they are entitled,” she says. “It’s time Irish political leaders stopped turning their backs on women and committed to a referendum to repeal the 8th amendment.”

Images: Rex Features

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