A new nationwide opinion poll has found almost eight in ten people support relaxing the ban on abortion, in cases of rape or incest.
The Red C poll also found a majority in favour of allowing terminations in cases of fatal foetal abnormality.
However the poll commissioned by Newstalk found that a majority of adults are against legalising abortion on demand.
41% of respondents said they favoured allowing abortion in any circumstances desired by a prospective mother, but 56% were opposed with the small remainder undecided or declining to answer.
Meanwhile 59% of respondents supported abortion in cases where the mother was suicidal - which is already permitted under Irish law.
Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly filed this report:
