A spokesperson for the Pro Life Campaign has said it is clear that the Citizens' Assembly on the Eighth Amendment is paving the way for a referendum on abortion.

The amendment, adopted in 1983, says "the State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right".

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Cora Sherlock said she believed the assembly is a pretend process with a pre-arranged outcome.

Ms Sherlock said there are very few laws in Ireland that you can say with certainty save lives, but the Eighth Amendment is one of them.

The assembly, she said, was the first step to remove human rights protection for the unborn, which "should really worry us".

She added that the amendment does not endanger women's health.

However, the Executive Director of Amnesty International has said the Government needs to commit to a referendum on the amendment.

Speaking on the same programme, Colm O'Gorman said that until Ireland repeals the amendment it will continue to be in violation of international human rights law.

He said Ireland cannot continue with a legal framework that violates the rights of women and girls every day.

Mr O'Gorman also said that the Citizens' Assembly should be time-bound and should draw on the expertise of the World Health Organisation.

He added that Judge Mary Laffoy is a good choice to chair the assembly.

Ms Sherlock also said her criticism of the assembly was not one of Judge Laffoy, who she said she had huge respect for.