Fine Gael's deputy leader is calling for an abortion referendum early in the next Dáil term.

The Minister for Children James Reilly says the next government should move quickly to repeal the 8th Amendment - the article giving an equal right to life to a mother and her unborn child.

Interviewed in today's Sunday Independent, Minister Reilly said women carrying babies with fatal foetal abnormalities should not be forced to go through with their pregnancies.

"Most repugnant to me is that they have to leave the country for a termination and then sneak back in like criminals to bring their babies' remains back," Dr Reilly said, adding that he feels it's "patently wrong".

He also said it was "very difficult" to ask women who have been raped to carry a child.

The Coalition to Repeal the Eighth is welcoming the calls from Minister Reilly to hold a referendum.

Spokesperson Sinéad Kennedy says she hopes other politicians come forward in support of a public vote:

Earlier this week an open letter signed by doctors from every region of the world urged governments to decriminalise abortion.

Amnesty International published the letter, which was signed by 838 medical professionals from 44 countries.

The letter calls on governments to stop interfering with health professionals' ability to provide care - warning that criminalising abortion puts women and girls’ health and lives at risk.

Amnesty International singled out three countries: El Salvador, Ireland and Chile.