The Citizens' Assembly to look at Ireland's abortion laws will be set up from next week.

Enda Kenny is to bring a memo to Cabinet next Tuesday, looking to establish the assembly which will look first at the issue of repealing the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution.

The Assembly's report will then be referred to an Oireachtas Committee for discussion before any decision is made on holding a referendum. 

The move follows the UN Human Rights Council's finding last week in the case of Amanda Mellet, who it found was subjected to 'cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment' when she was refused an abortion after her foetus was diagnosed with a fatal abnormality.

However, despite Ireland's constitutional position on abortion being 33 years old, Enda Kenny's told the Dáil that such a sensitive issue should not be rushed: