The Social Protection Minister says she does not know of any politician in the Dáil that would not want the life of a woman protected. 

The comments from Joan Burton follow the death of Savita Halappanavar who died at University Hospital Galway last month following a miscarriage.

Her husband says she was repeatedly denied a termination.

Junior Health Minister Alex White says the Oireachtas has failed in its duty to legislate for medical abortions.

"The effects of the X Case decision of the Supreme Court in 1992 should have been dealt with by legislation in the Oireachtas" he said.

"I have to say I think the Oireachtas has failed in its duty in relation to dealing with that".

"And govenrment"s all along the line - it has to be said - have failed in their duty in this regard" he added.

"Clarity needed on X Case"

Meanwhile Minister Burton has backed calls for the Oireachtas to give legal clarity to the "X Case" ruling.

Asked if her Fine Gael colleagues would support such a move she says. 

"This is a sensitive issue, there"s a range of views on it - but in fairness to every politician in Dail Eireann, I don"t know anybody who doesn"t want an outcome where the life of the mother is protected" she said.

"The Supreme Court has clearly said that in its judgement".

"And I think one thing I would expect everybody in Dail Eireann to be able to agree on is that protecting the life of the mother is of absolute importance" she added.