I am writing this letter on my journey back to London, where I now live, after a weekend in Ireland, where I grew up.

As Judge Mary Laffoy gets ready to present her report on the Citizens’ Assembly, Alison O’Connor says we are in for a tortuous few months before we get to vote on the issue.

Fine Gael leadership contender Simon Coveney has said he is uncomfortable with some parts of the Citizens’ Assembly’s recommendations and will not vote in favour of what he called “abortion on demand”.

Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone has backed calls for the abortion referendum to be held by February 2018 after saying the Oireachtas committee tasked with setting its scope does not need six months to decide.

Quote of the week: “I understand that they feel like that is their body. I feel like it is a separate — what I call them is, is you’re a ‘host’.”

Obstetricians “do not need to be in the vanguard” of the debate around repealing the Eight Amendment, according to the new clinical director for maternity services in the South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG).

Poorer women accept the pregnancy because they can’t raise €1,000 to fund a termination abroad, writes Alison O’Connor

The offer of compensation to a woman, who successfully made a case to the United Nations about Ireland’s abortion laws, is a recognition by the State that she was subjected to “cruel, inhuman and degrading” treatment because she was forced to travel to seek an abortion, the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NCWI) has said.

The offer of compensation to a woman who successfully complained to the United Nations about Ireland’s abortion laws, is a recognition by the State that she was subjected to “cruel, inhuman and degrading” treatment because she was forced to travel to seek an abortion, the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) has said.

Former Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has said he expects to be involved in any likely campaign to change Ireland’s abortion laws and also remain active in the party.

The Project Arts Centre in Dublin's Temple Bar has received complaints about a 'Repeal the 8th' mural on the front wall of its premises.

TDs have slammed the Government’s planned citizens’ assembly which is set to look into repealing the Eighth Amendment.