Bishops say repeal of 8th 'effectively says that unborn children do not exist' 

Latest: The Irish Catholic Bishops Conference claims repealing the Eighth Amendment would be "a shocking step" which "effectively says that unborn children do not exist".

Update: Catholic bishops have issued a joint statement rejecting the government's proposal to repeal the 8th amendment.

The Irish Catholic Bishops Conference claims repeal would leave unborn children at the mercy of what it called "permissive abortion laws" in the future.