Choice Ireland is hitting out at comments made by Cardinal Sean Brady on abortion.

It comes after Cardinal Brady said that the Catholic Church plans to lobby TDs and Ministers on the issue in the coming weeks.

It is before an expert group makes a recommendation to the government next month on how best to legislate for the ‘X’ case.

14 years ago a Supreme Court judge ruled in that case known that a woman should have the right to access an abortion in Ireland if there is a “real and substantial risk to her life”.

Cardinal Brady says the Church believes a new referendum on abortion will have to be held regardless of the findings of the expert group.

Labour Minister Pat Rabbitte has criticised the Cardinal saying it would be a retrograde step if the Catholic Church went back to dictating to elected representatives on how to address the issue of abortion.

Sinead Aherne is spokesperson for Choice Ireland.

She says the comments are by Cardinal Brady are totally irresponsible.