Abortion legislation will not be revisited in the lifetime of this Government, Minister for children Dr James Reilly has said.

Doctors and health officials are examining the case of a pregnant woman on life support which raises fresh legal issues over the right to life of the unborn.

The woman, believed to be in her mid to late 20s, suffered a brain trauma a number of weeks ago.

When asked about the case, Dr Reilly, the former minister for health, said it would not be appropriate for him to comment on individual cases.

“On the broader issue - this Government and I as minister for health addressed this issue that several other governments wouldn’t address. We brought clarity to the law for doctors and for women alike,” he said.

Dr Reilly signed the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill into law in December 2013, which allows for a termination of pregnancy where there is a real and substantial risk to a woman’s life from a physical illness, including from the risk of suicide.

“We had an expert group, we had a long debate, which in the main was held in a respectful way, and I think we made it clear at the time that it was unlikely having got through that, we would revisit this situation again.

“I would be the first to say that the law is not perfect by a long shot, and I heard Minister Varadkar’s speech. As a doctor, I understand his concerns and I share many of them.

“I don’t believe it’s realistic to believe that in the term left in this Government it will be possible to revisit that issue. It will be the next administration.”

Earlier this week, Mr Varadkar said the constitutional restrictions on abortion are too “restrictive” and have a “chilling effect” on doctors.

Mr Varadkar knew of the woman’s case before he made a speech on abortion in the Dáil, it has been confirmed.