The Taoiseach says he will ask the Health Minister to give the Cabinet a progress report on the abortion legislation today.

Enda Kenny says a great deal of work has been done so far on drafting the Bill. He also says that he will not comment on the weekend speculation that he has listened to.

The Cabinet will discuss the first draft of legislation aimed at introducing abortion in limited circumstances. But Ministers are not expected to sign off on the proposals at the meeting today.

The Bill is designed to spell out in law for the first time when a termination can be carried out.

 'No question of intensive interview process'

The Health Minister yesterday rejected claims that a panel of up to 6 doctors would have to assess if a woman is suicidal because of her pregnancy, saying "I want to reassure people that there'll be no question of a woman who's in distress with suicidal ideation being put through the sort of interviewing process I think that we've heard about on the television and the radio in the last couple of days".

James Reilly will outline what the proposal is today and if it is in line with the expert group recommendation of 2 or 3 doctors making a decision.

Speaking this morning, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny reiterated that while he cannot be definite he would like to see the legislation enacted before the summer.