The deputy leader of the Labour party says he doesn't believe the current Government will examine the issue of the 8th amendment to the constitution.

Alan Kelly's comments come after it emerged that a clinically dead woman who is 17 weeks pregnant is being kept on life support because the constitution affords an equal right to life of the unborn.

The woman's parents - who are her next of kin - may go to the High Court as it is their wish for the life support machine to be switched off.

Minister Alan Kelly says this is a very difficult and sad case and there is no right or wrong answer - but he doesn't believe the coalition will look at this issue in the constitution: