The Tánaiste says she understands the parents of a clinically dead woman - who is being kept on life support because she is 17 weeks pregnant - will probably take court proceedings next week.

It is understood the woman is being kept alive against the wishes of her parents, after the woman suffered catastrophic internal injuries due to a blood clot.

The woman's parents are now thought to be considering legal action, after doctors said they were not permitted to turn off the life support machine.

A case was presented in the High Court on Monday 15th December 2015, in relation to the continuance or not of life support for a pregnant woman.

The President of the High Court adjourned the matter until December 23rd.

Joan Burton has told the Dáil that she became aware of the case last Sunday in a phone call from Health Minister Leo Varadkar.

She says it is up to the woman's family and her loved ones to decide how they would like their daughter to be treated.

The Tánaiste says the vast majority of Irish people hold a very centre-ground opinion on cases like this:

Deputy leader of the Labour party and Environment Minister Alan Kelly says this is a very difficult and sad case and there is no right or wrong answer.

However, he does not believe the current government will examine the issue of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution:

Justine Murphy from the Abortion Rights Campaign says the case highlights the complications surrounding the Eighth Amendment:

Dr Ruth Fletcher, a Senior Lecturer in Medical Law at Queen Mary University in London, told Breakfast keeping the mother alive poses difficult questions about her legal rights. You can listen back to her interview here.

Originally posted at 21.20, 17th December