The Government may publish its response to the resignation of Justice Mary Laffoy as the chairperson the child abuse inquiry later today.
It is understood the Government is considering publishing extensive documentation connected with the inquiry in addition to Justice Laffoy's resignation letter.
A Government spokesman could not confirm to ireland.comwhether the documentation will be published following today's Cabinet meeting but indicated that an announcement could be made later this evening.
It is thought the Coalition will defend its stewardship of the inquiry in its response.
With the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, under increasing political pressure to resolve the affair, the Government is also expected to publish new proposals aimed at changing the operation of the Laffoy Commission.
The changes are understood to include plans to hear a much smaller number than the 1,700 outstanding cases before the inquiry, cutting the legal cost of proceedings.
It is expected the inquiry will then be allowed to draw inferences from the outcome of those limited number of cases.