The cabinet has approved plans for a Citizens Convention on abortion and other issues.

The 100-member group will hold its first meeting before November and given twelve months to complete its work.

However it's understood the convention will be allowed to complete its work in modules, with the Eighth Amendment the first issue on its agenda.

Other issues such as the prospect of fixed-term parliaments will also be discussed, as well as the principle of whether constitutional referendums should be held as single one-offs or whether several questions should be put on one day.

No decision has been made on who should serve as its chair, though it was previously suggested that a serving or retired judge would serve in this role.