"I believe in the principle of the right to choose - I think in the rest of the UK we have a sensible balance," said leader of the Liberal Democrats, Vince Cable.

Northern Ireland could become the only country in the United Kingdom and Ireland where abortions are outlawed, bar exceptional circumstances.

"The position in Northern Ireland is now highly anomalous and I think, probably, action will now have to be taken," added Sir Vince.

"Since there is, effectively, direct rule from Westminster, the government has responsibility and it can and should take the opportunity to deal with this issue properly."

"I will go to cabinet on Tuesday and I'll ask government colleagues for permission to draft legislation," says Irish Minister for Health Simon Harris.

Image source, RTE

"I would imagine that that will happen over the summer months and I would hope that we would be in a position to introduce legislation in the Oireachtas early in the autumn."

The taoiseach (Irish prime minister) tells RTÉ - "What we've seen today is the culmination of a quiet revolution that's been taking place in Ireland over the past 20 years," he said.

Image source, RTE

"The people have spoken. They have said we need a modern constitution for a modern country, that we trust and respect women to make the right choices and decisions about their own health care.

"We are a nation that is not divided, we are united and ready to make this change."

"This campaign ends decades of women and girls in the most appalling of circumstances being exiled from their own country just to get the care they need. It's a clear message of compassion, of progress."

Image source, RTE

"I've had a very strong sense, in the course of the campaign, that there's been a pent up sentiment on the ground and that this campaign, in very many ways, was cathartic. It was driven by people's personal stories, by real women's experiences and I'm very pleased."

"People decided how they wanted our country to change how it approaches women who are facing crisis pregnancies," says Tanaiste Simon Coveney.

Image source, RTE

"They wanted to see a much more compassionate, much more doctor and medical-led approach towards helping people that are vulnerable instead of giving them an address in Manchester or Birmingham and sending them on their way."

Erinn Kerr
BBC News NI

Ireland may have voted overwhelmingly to repeal the eighth amendment, the war is over, but the battle rages on in Donegal.

Stacks of ballots are piled high on tables with just millimetres of difference between them.

Tallies have flip flopped from a yes lead to a no lead on almost a box-by-box basis, with the latest indications showing things are still neck in neck.

Campaigners on the no side are hopeful - though not as hopeful as they were before entering the count centre this morning and those on the yes side are quietly celebrating their wider victory.

They see even a close vote in Donegal as a huge leap forward for the traditionally conservative constituency.

Mary Lou McDonald - leader of Sinn Féin - has arrived at the RDS count centre. She says the referendum result (yet to be confirmed) is a “wonderful progressive moment for Irish society".

"There has been a lot of misinformation - that needs to be taken into account," says Katie Ascough from Love Both Project.

Image source, Love Both Project

"Also, what the Yes campaign was saying, that the rates of abortion would not increase if the 8th Amendment were removed. I don't think that's true, but it is what they have said and we need to hold them accountable."

"Ireland has changed. We are now firmly in the 21st century," Senator David Norris says at the RDS count centre.

Image source, RTÉ