The Citizens' Assembly - set up to consider the 8th amendment and other issues - meets for the first time today.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny will officially launch the body - made up of 99 randomly-selected Irish citizens.

The group is meeting in Dublin Castle this afternoon.

It will consider the issue of abortion next month.

Lecturer in Constitutional Law at W.I.T Dr. Jennifer Kavanagh, says the assembly allows for an open discussion of pressing issues: