Advocacy groups have been reacting to the outcome of the Citizens' Assembly vote to recommend an extensive liberalisation of the grounds on which abortion is available in Ireland.
Groups calling for a repeal of the Eighth Amendment say the result shows there is a huge appetite for change while pro-life groups say today's recommendations would result in what they called abortion on demand.
"No matter how one dresses it up, today's vote at the Citizens' Assembly would result in abortion on demand if the recommendations voted on were inserted in the Constitution," said Cora Sherlock of the Pro Life Campaign.
She made the remarks after the Citizens' Assembly met for the last time today, before sending their recommendations to the Oireachtas.
Ms Sherlock added: "There is nothing liberal or progressive about the Assembly recommending a referendum to strip unborn babies of their right to life in law and also ignoring the negative consequences of abortion for women."
"If the next phase of the process is to have any credibility, the first thing the new Oireachtas Committee charged with looking at the issue must do is examine how the Citizens' Assembly was allowed to operate in such a one-sided and chaotic way," said Ms Sherlock.
However, Amnesty International's Irish office welcomed the outcome of the Citizens' Assembly vote.
"The Assembly's overwhelming (64%) backing for abortion on request at least in early pregnancy is a testament to their compassion and good sense. This is indeed the best way to safeguard women and girls' rights, said Colm O'Gorman, Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland.
"This, accompanied by later gestational limits in specific circumstances which they also backed, paves the way for the introduction of human rights compliant laws on abortion.
"We earnestly hope that the Government respects this process by moving forward with decisive action now. It is time to end the daily violations of women's and girls' human rights, and the Assembly has set out a mandate to achieve that," added Mr O'Gorman.
Social Democrats co-leaders, Catherine Murphy TD and Róisín Shortall TD, said: "The Social Democrats strongly welcome the clear decision of the Assembly for a change in the status quo, and the clear recommendation for Constitutional change to ensure that the issue can now be dealt with by the legislature."
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said: "Politicians can no longer bury their heads in the sand on the issue of the Eighth Amendment. They must now take responsibility, and legislate for a referendum to repeal the Eighth, and allow access to terminations in a wide range of circumstances, as per the Assembly's recommendations."
However, Renua leader Cllr John Leahy said: "While we acknowledge the hard work of the Citizens' Assembly, we are puzzled and disappointed by their recommendations; to allow a fundamental human rights issue to be decided at any given moment by a majority of TDs is disturbing."
"Turning an amendment that protected human rights into one that states that those human rights are a matter of policy at the political level is perverse and will make the human rights of the unborn one more item to be horse-traded in order to secure power," he added.
The Life Institute which organises the Rally for Life, said it was always obvious there would be a referendum. It said its members will continue to canvass to retain the Eighth Amendment.
The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA), has welcomed the recommendations. IFPA Chief Executive Niall Behan said: "There can be absolutely no doubt that the members of the Assembly want healthcare policy that respects women's reproductive health rights, their dignity, autonomy and equality."
In a homily delivered at Knock shrine Archbishop Eamonn Martin said: "Article 40.3.3 is fundamentally a declaration of tenderness and love for the equal right to life of both a mother and her unborn child... it places as the very foundations and substructure of our laws a clear conviction that all human life is worth cherishing."
In a statement this afternoon, Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger said: "The results go against the mantra tone-policing from some in the media and the mantra from Government that society is only ready for minimal abortion.
"In fact the Citizens' Assembly has voted that women should no longer have to travel for their healthcare and human rights."
