The Citizens' Assembly says it has received more than 13,000 submissions on the 8th amendment.

Submissions are now closed for this topic, but submissions on the assembly's other issues will be accepted in due course.

The assembly got almost 8,000 online submissions, and over 5,000 submissions by post.

All submissions made will be published on the assembly's website in chronological order on a rolling basis.

Submissions will also be categorised by the name or the name of the organisation and - in the case of personal stories or sensitive submissions - personal data and related identifiable details have been removed on request.

The assembly may choose to hear oral presentations from any group or individual who submitted a document.

The second meeting of the assembly, where it will continue its consideration of the 8th amendment, will take place on January 7th and 8th 2017.

Chair of the assembly, Ms Justice Mary Laffoy, said: "We are encouraged by number of submissions we received on the topic of the 8th amendment to the Constitution.

"I want to thank everyone who made a submission and I appreciate very much their engagement with this process.

"The submissions the assembly received have an important role in the ongoing development of the work programme and the range of the opinions and insights in the submissions is testament to the complexity of the topic.

"We truly value the effort that everyone has made and we will be reading each one of the submissions in advance of their publication on the website."