The small number of women in the Republic dying as a result of pregnancy shows it is untrue that abortion is needed to save women's lives, according to an anti-abortion campaigner.
Dr Berry Kiely, medical adviser to the Pro-Life Campaign, was speaking on the 20th anniversary of the first abortion referendum.
She said many "extraordinary statements" made during the campaign had been proved false.
"Incredible reasons for opposition to the amendment were given, which thankfully never came to pass. The then minister for health stated emphatically that 500 women per year would die if the amendment were enacted," she said.
"The Taoiseach of the day also accepted the 'women will die' scenario. The electorate, along with the medical profession, rejected this advice outright. As we know, women did not die as a result of the amendment. Indeed, our maternal mortality rate is probably the best in the world.
"The amendment did not put women at risk. Irish obstetric practice is excellent across the board."
Dr Kiely was addressing anti-abortion students in Dublin yesterday. The veteran anti-abortion activist, Senator Des Hanafin, had also been due to speak but he collapsed earlier with chest pains. He was taken to hospital, where his condition is stable.
Dr Kiely said that 20 years ago, when abortion laws were being liberalised across the world, the Republic had bucked the trend. "We gave constitutional backing to the humanity of the unborn. When people recognise this they are genuinely pro-life. Those who don't recognise it are pro-choice," she said.
It was very dangerous when a section of society insisted some people were less human than others. "It happened with slavery and apartheid. The unborn should not be treated differently," Dr Kiely said.
She claimed pro-amendment campaigners had safeguarded "the right to life of women in pregnancy and their unborn children".
"Despite the criticism levelled against the proposal, it is to this day the main reason why abortions are not performed in Ireland," she said. "The challenge now is to continue to seek clarity in the law regarding right-to-life issues."