Labour Party backbenchers are being warned that they are obliged to support the government position on abortion law.

The Education Minister Ruairi Quinn says all members of his party in the Dáil are expected to back the government when a Sinn Fein motion calling for abortion legislation is debated tomorrow.

The Health Minister James Reilly said yesterday it could be next year before the government decides its position on abortion law.

But Sinn Fein has tabled a motion in the Dáil tomorrow calling on the government to legislate for abortion arising out of the Supreme Court decision on the "X Case".

Speaking in Dublin this morning the Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said the Cabinet would decide tomorrow whether or not to oppose that Sinn Fein motion.

"I haven"t spoken to my colleagues this morning - we"ll be having a Cabinet meeting tomorrow morning, it will be for the Cabinet to decide, we"ll get the advice then" he said.

"I"m not going to anticipate what the position is - that is frankly not for me to do" he added.

Warning over party line

But one Labour Party backbencher Ciara Conway from Waterford has indicated she may support the Sinn Fein motion unless the government comes up with a strong counter-motion tomorrow.

Minister Quinn has warned Labour Party backbenchers that they face consequences if they fail to support the government position on abortion law.

"They"re elected on a Labour Party ticket; in this instance they"re obliged within our own rules to vote with the party on occasions unless there"s an indication to the contrary - and there"s no such indication".

"They all know what the consequences are of whatever decision they take" he added.