TDs and Senators debating abortion laws have been hearing the story of one couple forced to travel to England.
The couple gave evidence to the Oireachtas Committee, explaining what they had to go through when they found out their baby wouldn't survive after being born.
Labour Deputy Jan O'Sullivan read out some of what they said:
"If we have our car we can bring our baby home on the boat. This journey involves us having to go to a supermarket to buy freezer packs and then we have to stop at regular intervals to open the coffin and change them so that we can keep our baby cold".
Deputy O'Sullivan continued to read about how the couple then "also have to leave our baby covered in our car in a blanket or in the boot, while we cross the Irish Sea".
This evening, the Fianna Fáil leader has - for the first time - publicly backed repealing the 8th amendment.
Micheal Martin also backed the Oireachtas committee recommendation of abortion without restriction for up to 12 weeks.
In the Dáil he said the reality is there is abortion in Ireland, and no laws will change that.
I’m conscious that not everyone will agree with the view that I have come to on the 8th Amendment, but it is my honest view of what I think is the right thing to do. As a country, we owe it to each other to have a compassionate debate.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) January 18, 2018
A Fine Gael TD says women have been subjected to 'sexual apartheid' because of restrictive abortion laws.
Kate O'Connell accused the church and state of historical collusion on issues like contraception and abortion.
