The report of the expert group on abortion is expected to be presented to Cabinet on Tuesday week, November 27, following which it will be published.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has denied reports of a Government rift on the legal position on the abortion issue.

Speaking in Galway today, he said he did not have any interest in 'newspaper headlines that are not based on fact.'

He said the death of 31-year-old Savita Halappanavar at Galway University Hospital was a very sad and traumatic case, and the death of the unborn child and the bereavement of her husband was a matter of sympathy and trauma to everybody.

Mr Kenny the report of the expert group on abortion had been given to the Minister for Health, and both he and the Tanaiste had received a copy.

"This is a matter that has divided Irish society for a great number of years and I am not going to be pushed into a situation by force of numbers on any side. This is something that needs to be treated rationally and openly and truthfully."

The Taoiseach said the expert group report would be presented to Government by the Minister for Health, it would then be published, the Oireachtas and everybody else could then discuss it and the report would then be sent to the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe by November 30.

Asked about calls for setting up an inquiry into the Savita Halappanavar case independent of the HSE, he said it was very important that we should first see what the outcome of the current investigations were.

Mr Kenny said it was only proper that the facts of the case should be determined.

"I don't rule out anything beyond that but I think it is only appropriate that the Minister for Health should be presented with the true and accurate findings of the investigation in the first instance."

Mr Kenny was speaking to reporters after officially opening of the Croi Heart and Stroke Centre in Galway.

The membership of the HSE-appointed inquiry team into the Ms Halappanavar's death is still being finalised.

Health Minister James Reilly said today the Halappanavar family was being consulted before the terms of reference for the HSE inquiry were finalised. Further details about the inquiry are likely to be revealed early next week.