And Dr. James Reilly says whatever decision is made it will be implemented in the new year.

The 58 page report from the expert group set up to examine the ABC and X cases has been published this afternoon.

The Health Minister says he does not forsee mass division within the coalition on the issue.

Dr. Reilly says the report shows the need to bring clarity for the women of Ireland and those treating them.

The number of women accessing a support service for victims of domestic abuse has more than doubled since 2007.

Safe Ireland's annual report also highlights a 15 per cent rise in demand in the past year alone.

But a heavy demand on the service meant that women seeking help were turned away on more than 2-thousand-500 occasions.

Lawyers for Catherine Nevin say her murder conviction should not be used against her in a High Court row over her husband's assets.

The 61 year old is serving a life sentence for killing Tom Nevin who was shot at Jack White's pub near Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow in 1996.

The High Court will deliver a ruling in the new year as to whether Catherine Nevin's murder conviction can be used as evidence against her in a legal row over her husband's assets.

Patrick Nevin and Margaret Lavelle have brought a case to stop their brother's widow from getting a share of his estate arguing that she shouldn't benefit from her wrongdoing.

The late Tom Nevin had substantial assets including the jointly owned Jack White's pub which was sold by his widow in 1997 for over 600 thousand pounds.

Lawyers for his family say it would be illogical and an abuse of process if Catherine Nevin's murder conviction could not be admitted in evidence when the case goes to hearing.

But her legal team argue it's prejudicial and want an 'open pitch' where it's up to her in laws to prove their case against her.

They also want the case put back while she mounts a fresh appeal against her conviction.

A Cork woman has been remanded in continuing custody ahead of her trial for the murder of her son.

42 year old Diane Ward is charged with murdering her 8 year old son Anthony at the family home at Harrison Place in Charleville on September 3rd last.

She appeared via videolink when the book of evidence was served at Limerick District Court this morning.

She's been sent forward for trial at the current sitting of the Central Criminal Court.

There've been longstanding concerns about the potential impact on Ireland of an incident at Sellafield on the Cumbrian coastline in North West England.

The nuclear power facility is only 180 kilometres from Ireland.

However those fears have been allayed in this report - published today by the Department of the Environment.

It concludes an incident at Sellafield - resulting in the release of radioactive material - would result in no observable health effects here.

But it could result in significant socioeconomic impacts - such as a loss in tourism and markets for Irish seafood and farm products.

The assessment was carried out by an 8 person team of independent experts made up of nuclear physicists, chemists and engineers.

The possible scenarios they considered included an earthquake, a meteorite strike, a plane crash, terrorist attacks, fires and human error.