Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said that the Government intends to approve new abortion legislation at today's Cabinet meeting.
It follows a week of discussions between Labour and Fine Gael over the issue of suicide as a grounds for abortion.
Deputy Kenny said the Government intends to approve the main points of the Bill today, and send the legislation to the Oireachtas Health Committee.
He brushed aside concerns that the new Bill would lead to resignations in his own party, saying that the legislation was more important than party politics.
"It’s the intention to have the heads approved today and sent off to the committee," he said.
"This is about saving lives, it's about giving legal certainty and clarity," he said.
"It's an issue that's been around for a very long time and it's necessary that we do that and provide certainty for women and certainty for medial personnel.
"It's about saving lives - the lives of the mothers and the lives of the unborn children."