The Master of the National Maternity Hospital has said the existence of the Eighth Amendment is causing serious risk to women and should be removed.
However, a group of healthcare professionals campaigning for the retention of the Amendment said it protects women and Ireland is a far safer place because of it.
Dr Rhona Mahony was speaking at an event organised by the Together for Yes group, which is calling for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment.
She said there are "back street" abortions happening in Ireland with women accessing abortion pills without the necessary medical support.
One of the group's co-directors, Ailbhe Smyth, said she welcomed the proposed legislation brought forward by Minister for Health Simon Harris yesterday, saying the measures would be very effective in addressing the real life needs women have.
She also said she is looking forward to the date of the referendum to be announced, adding it was a long time coming.
Ms Smyth said there is a growing consensus that the Eighth Amendment has to go, as it is harmful to women.
Speaking outside the Dáil, Dr Andrew O'Regan from Medical Alliance for the Eighth said he was deeply concerned about the Government's proposals.
Dr O'Regan said if the proposals were accepted they would turn doctors who are trained to heal and do good into people who will do harm.
He also said Ireland is among the safest countries in the world to have a baby.
Meanwhile, the two most senior bishops in the Church of Ireland have rejected the Government's outline of abortion legislation which they say provides for "unrestricted access" to terminations in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
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In a statement, Archbishops Richard Clarke of Armagh and Archbishop Michael Jackson of Dublin recall that early last month they expressed concern that the forthcoming Constitutional referendum was being understood as a quasi opinion poll on what they call "the complex issue of abortion".
However, they say voters now face a "stark decision" following the Government's publication of its general scheme of a Bill (or draft law) to be introduced in the Oireachtas if the people vote in a referendum to repeal Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution.
The two prelates say their remarks are "for the consideration of" the Church of Ireland's members.
The statement concedes that the present constitutional provision "has proved less than satisfactory in some respects" and recalls that they had suggested the possibility of modifying the article.
However, the Archbishops warn that "what is now being proposed by the Government - if the Article is repealed - is unrestricted access to abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy."
The statement continues: "As we have said before (in our statement of 5th February)… unrestricted access to abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, or indeed at any stage, is not an ethical position we can accept."
They recall that their February statement had also commented about the need for pastoral care for women, their partners and their families, and for improved support services and greater investment in medical and mental health services.
Today's statement underlines that "there is, for Christians, a very clear witness in the Scriptures that all human life, including (life) before physical birth, has a sacred dignity in the eyes of God".
"We therefore ask Church members to think through the issues involved carefully and with prayer over these coming weeks," the statement concludes.
'No permission sought' over literature hand out
Separately, Iarnród Éireann has confirmed no permission was sought by campaigners who want to retain the Eighth Amendment to hand out literature on its property.
Campaigners in Dublin this morning handed out literature on the platform of the Sydney Parade DART Station entitled '8 Reasons to save the 8th'.
Under Iarnród Éireann by-laws it is not allowed to distribute leaflets or hand out written information without permission .
An Iarnród Éireann spokesperson has confirmed that no permission was sought or granted for the handing out of leaflets.
A spokesperson for Save The 8th said as a general rule, it does not campaign on Iarnród Éireann property but could not comment on this particular instance.
Additional reporting Joe Little
