The Health Minister James Reilly last night promised that the government would act to provide legal clarity for doctors after an expert report on abortion law is published and debated.

The Sinn Fein motion calling for the government to introduce abortion where the life of the mother is at risk is likely to be comfortably defeated in the Dail tonight.

That"s despite calls from the party"s Deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald for TD"s to support it.

The Health Minister James Reilly said the government would act to provide clarity around the area of medical terminations once a report from an expert group on abortion law is discussed and published by the government next week.

Meanwhile, the government is being called on to remove the chairman of the investigation team examining the death of Savita Halappanavar.

Senator Ronan Mullen says Professor Alkumaran is an advocate of abortion, having published pro-abortion views in a 2009 academic paper, making him unsuitable for the job.