The Minister for Health has raised the prospect of extending the Dáil term to deal with the new abortion legislation.

James Reilly says there is a real sense within government that the issue should be dealt with before the summer break.

But he says it's important that all sides in the debate get to air their views before the law is enacted.

Minister Reilly says they are on course to deal with the legislation before the end of July, but if the Dáil has to sit longer this year - then so be it:

The Chair of the Oireachtas Health Committee earlier told Newstalk "it's a big ask" for the Government to have abortion legislation enacted before the Dáil's summer recess.

The Committee has heard three days of expert evidence on the proposed draft legislation, much of which focused on the inclusion of suicide ideation as grounds for a termination.

A report will be given to the Minister for Health James Reilly by the end of the month.

Fine Gael TD and Chair of the Committee, Jerry Buttimer, told Newstalk's Breakfast that the Government has committed to enacting the legislation by July - but it will be difficult: