Pro-choice conference takes place in Dublin

A major conference on abortion is taking place in Dublin this morning.

The "Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment" is being held at the Gresham Hotel, where several pro-choice groups have gathered to discuss strategies and tactics.

They are calling on the Government to take action to protect women dealing with a crisis pregnancy in the wake of an asylum seeker being refused an abortion

Organiser Alibhe Smyth says the problem with the Eighth Amendment is that it gives an equal weight to the life of a foetus and the life of a woman:

"Obviously, in any number of situations, that balance is not achievable," she said.

"The difficulty is that it is women's health and women lives that are being sacrificed [or], at any rate, not being protected," she said.