'Women with experience of abortion should be allowed give views to Citizens' Assembly'

A pro-choice group says women who have had abortions should be allowed to give their views to the Citizens' Assembly.

The body of 99 citizens meets this weekend for a free thinking discussion on how they will deal with the issue of the Eighth Amendment.

The assembly will meet again in the new year, for further sessions to decide whether a referendum on abortion should be called.

Ailbhe Smyth (Pictured) from the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth, says women's experiences and needs should be at the centre of all discussions on the future of Ireland's abortion laws: "We feel it is really important that the whole abortion debate and the assembly be informed by the expertise of women themselves who are the experts in this particular domain.

"So we would very much like to think that the secretary will organise for women to give testimony to the assembly members, women who have had an abortion."