Leaving suicide out of the discussion on abortion is not an option, according to Minister for Justice Alan Shatter.
Speaking on RTÉ radio this morning, Mr Shatter said the Government is taking the issue of suicide very seriously.
"I would say to them [listeners] if it were their daughter or their niece or their wife who was threatening suicide and if psychiatrists fully accepted there was a very substantiation risk of suicide, would they do nothing or would they ensure whatever action was necessary is taken to protect their lives," he said.
"The Supreme Court is absolutely clear upon this issue and the people have been absolutely clear. There were attempts made by previous governments in 1992 and 2002 to remove suicide as an issue. The people on both occasions turned that down."
During a private members' time in the Dáil last night, Mr Shatter said that some citizens are more equal than others.
Asked to clarify his comments this morning, he said: "We have a British solution to an Irish problem. That will remain the position. I think many people are unhappy with that, but it is not an issue the Government can address.
"In that sense, I pointed out that when men in this country require medical treatment there are no barriers to their obtaining it. In these particular areas, for example, there are barrier to women obtaining treatment and in that sense they are less equal as citizens in one particular area of our life."