The need for 'safe zones' around locations offering abortion services has become "more urgent than ever", the National Women's Council of Ireland has warned.
It comes after it emerged that American anti-abortion activists are planning to approach women to intervene in the treatment of those trying to access GP clinics or hospitals offering terminations.
The undercover investigation was carried out by The Times, Ireland edition.
It reveals the group will seek to approach pregnant women who have received a diagnosis of a fatal foetal abnormality in an effort to talk them out of having an abortion.
The report suggests campaigners are being trained to wait in hospital car parks to target couples.
Journalist Ellen Coyne, who wrote the story alongside her colleague Katie O'Neill, told Newstalk Breakfast: "It works basically works by trying to target women outside any GP clinic or hospital that provides abortion services.
"[The activists] refer them instead to an anti-abortion agency, where ultimately they'll be persuaded out of terminating their pregnancy.
"They claimed that they have ways to get around exclusion zone laws, like the ones the Irish Government wants to pass."
Safe zones
The Government has already indicated its intention to legislate for safe access zones, but the legislation has yet to be formally introduced.
The proposed law is set to include a ban on “oral, written or visual displays” within the zones.
The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) said the new revelations show that the need for such rules has become "more urgent than ever".
Dr Cliona Loughnane, women's Health Coordinator at the NWCI, said: “We have already seen some protests in Irish healthcare facilities.
"These are similar to tactics used by anti-abortion groups in other countries which can stop women exercising their legal right to abortion.
"The Irish public voted for abortion to be provided in Ireland. This must be like access to any other healthcare procedure."
She added that safety zone legislation would protect both women and doctors, while showing a "zero tolerance approach to any attempts to coerce and intimidate women".
Dr Loughnane also stressed that the safety zone rules should make clear the "dimensions of an area in which certain behaviours are illegal" - such as protests or surveillance of a building.
