The long-awaited Oireactas Committee report on abortion is not now expected until the end of October.
Sources said yesterday that the final report, being drawn up by the All-Party Committee on the Constitution, would not be handed over to the Taoiseach for "four or five weeks".
One source said the committee had not had a full meeting in several weeks, and it was unlikely that the report would be completed by the end of this month, as originally planned. It is understood the report is likely to recommend three options to the Government. These are thought to be: a constitutional referendum overturning the effects of the X case; the retention of the status quo; or the introduction of legislation in keeping with the Supreme Court decision in the X case.
The three options would reflect the views of the main political parties.
Fine Gael has stated it is in favour of keeping the status quo, while Labour favours the introduction of legislation to regulate the operation of abortion services as provided for in the 1992 Supreme Court judgment.
It is understood that Fianna Fail is keen to get all-party backing for the working of a new referendum alongside legislation protecting existing medical practices.