To those who advocate for ‘death with dignity’ Prof Des O’Neill responded that human dignity cannot be lost through disability, disease, dependency, or suffering. However he added that: “insensitive treatment or attitudes to those so affected can constitute undignified care,” and issues such as adequacy of treatment and support should be properly addressed.

"The OECD does surveys about this kind of thing, and discovers actually that families are having fewer children than they'd like because they can't afford it" – David Quinn.

Some 98.2 per cent of abortions that took place happened where there was no threat to the health or the life of mother or child. The report revealed that the majority of abortions came under the ‘early pregnancy’ category (6,542), while 100 were carried out because of a ‘condition likely to lead to the death of a foetus’. A further 21 abortions were carried out because of ‘risk of life or health (of the mother)’ while 3 were performed because of ‘risk to life or health in an emergency’.

Eilís Mulroy, PLC, said that it is a “regressive move” for Fianna Fáil and the Green Party negotiating teams to have joined Fine Gael in supporting the introduction of “censorship zones” that breach civil liberties.

“We share the Garda Commissioner’s view ... that the existing legislation around harassment is sufficient and we believe that an introduction of ‘exclusion zones’ would be unconstitutional and undemocratic,” says spokesperson.

“If this was proposed even a few years ago, there would almost certainly have been a public outcry of some sort” – David Quinn, Iona Institute

Former president says she stated that she was not talking about the sex act but by analogy using the passage to describe the position and role of women in the Church.

According to the report, two non religious parents pass on their lack of religion, while religious parents have a 50:50 chance of passing on their beliefs.

“There are many problematic aspects to the General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill as it stands, not least the assumption that natural ties should not matter to children conceived this way or to surrogate mothers” – Breda O’Brien.

Image of 11-week-old unborn baby in the womb is not “violent or graphic content”.

While the Roman Catholic ceremony was still the most popular choice among opposite-sex couples, the 2018 report shows that civil marriage ceremonies accounted for 62.8 per cent of same-sex marriages and 28.7 per cent of opposite-sex marriages.

“This totally undermines the whole concept of freedom of conscience which was guaranteed in the recent legislation.”

Iona Institute warns against introduction of broad all-encompassing legislation on exclusion zones.

Iona Institute says parents’ wishes must be front and centre of any revision as it is their children who are being taught and parents are the primary educators.

According to the Iona Institute's analysis of Census 2016, 6 per cent of professional workers were separated or divorced compared with 18 per cent of unskilled workers.

“In accordance with Article 46 of the Constitution, President Higgins today signed the Thirty-Sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018, and it has accordingly become law.”

Less than a quarter of Irish Catholic teenagers surveyed were able to correctly name the Trinity as “Father, Son and Holy Spirit”, says survey author.

The PLC has prepared a ready-to-go e-card calling on politicians to ensure that freedom of conscience rights for all healthcare workers are properly protected in the new legislation.

The new General Scheme narrows the scope of conscientious objection, gives a more limited definition of viability post birth, and extends the demarcation of ‘fatal foetal abnormality’ for several weeks past birth.

But they affirm it is “vital to ensure that the rights of individuals and communities to practise and live out their faith openly are protected by law”.

Ad ban will affect No side 100% more than Repeal side as mainstream media “dominated by Yes side talking points,” says Iona.

“No doctor doing their job properly would wait until there is an immediate and critical threat to a pregnant woman’s life before acting to protect the woman. The Eighth Amendment does not stop me from doing my job.”

The very purpose of the referendum from the government’s point of view is to allow it to legislate for abortion – Maria Steen on behalf of the Iona Institute.

Finola Bruton appeals to men to stand up for the unborn and take on their rights and responsibilities as fathers.

“In the first 12 weeks of pregnancy no medical reason for abortion whatsoever need be offered. Perfectly healthy women will be aborting perfectly healthy babies. How is this ‘healthcare’?" - Maria Steen.

This ruling makes the forthcoming referendum more important than ever, according to the Iona Institute, which said that the Eighth Amendment is now the “only constitutional protection” that children have before birth.

The lifting of the Baptism barrier is legally fraught, and will not solve problem of under supply of schools in certain areas.

"It has become increasingly clear that the process of the Committee has been so arranged as to reach a pre-set decision without balanced consideration of any evidence that runs contrary to this pre-determined outcome” - Patricia Casey.

Census 2016 Households and Families report shows 9 per cent rise in separated and divorced in Ireland.

The Knock Novena is one of the greatest spiritual and cultural events in Irish life today, with more than 10,000 pilgrims taking part.