The Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution is expected to make its report on the abortion issue by midsummer, the Minister for Health told the ardfheis.
Mr Martin said the Government had been determined, from the outset, to develop a consensus and informed approach, which had led to the publication of an "outstanding" Green Paper and its referral to the committee.
"We will take action on the issue when we receive the report, and we are determined as a Government to resolve it, once and for all, in a rational and consensual manner."
The Minister was responding to a Limerick East motion, passed by delegates, which endorsed "the consensus approach taken by the Government" and looked forward to the committee's work "contributing in an informed manner" to the debate.
Ms Sandra Marsh (Limerick East) said the only way forward in dealing with difficult issues was through a consensus approach. The all-party Oireachtas committee was independent of the Government and free to examine the Green Paper in any way it wished.
She said the committee received 105,000 communications, which were being analysed.
"This level of response indicates that consultation is critical, and that the public wants to be involved in all stages of the consultative process."
Mr Michael Stokes (Dublin South West) said it should be said that no one group held a monopoly of wisdom on the issue. "One of the reasons for fear in this whole debate is the fear of being misunderstood, of being labelled as a moraliser."
Ms Fiona O'Hea (Cavan-Monaghan) said that in the abortion area there were social and medical terminations. "The vast majority of terminations are social. I cannot see how a social termination is ever justifiable in our society. We have a comprehensive social structure in place to deal with crisis pregnancies. We must improve education of our young people to avoid such pregnancies." Medical terminations were a painful topic for anybody to discuss, she added. "I believe we must face that there is a case to be made for giving informed options to a patient who finds herself in a tragic situation. The implications must be discussed with the patient, and we must facilitate her choice in whatever way possible."
Mr Jim Doolan (Galway West) said the approach to the abortion issue should be to seek a informed debate, pursued with reason. "But it may be overly simplistic to imagine that a consensus is likely to be achieved. There are deep principles involved, on which we may want to take a firm stand."
Delegates also passed motions calling for a reduction in waiting lists, improved community and respite care, and a better deal for nurses.
Ms Deirdre Heney (Dublin North West) said people despaired when they could not see any obvious improvement in the waiting lists, despite the allocation of extra resources. "Some groups, such as the intellectually disabled, are pleased with the allocation in the Budget, but many other worthy groups are not happy."
"For example, a young child in my ward of Ballymun-Whitehall has been waiting for treatment for over four years. This child's treatment should not depend on whether the parent can organise a whip-around of £3,000. It is disgraceful. We know that public money is available.
Calling for the implementation of the nursing commission report in full as soon as possible, Ms Eimear McAuliffe (Dun Laogh aire) said morale among nurses was low and it was important this be dealt with. There was discrimination against student nurses relating to college fees. "Why shouldn't a student nurse get a grant?"
The commission's recommendations on greater flexibility on work contracts should be introduced to encourage nurses to stay in Ireland.
Mr Martin said he wanted a new healthcare landscape where the need of the patient - the customer - was paramount, and where all the systems were transparent.
"If your appointment in June is cancelled, and postponed until September, you do not care that there are 2,000 people ahead of you on a waiting list. What you do care about is the waiting time. And even more than the waiting time, you care about the uncertainty of the waiting time."