Opposition parties have accused the Government of trying to rush legislation to hold a referendum on abortion through the Oireachtas without a proper debate.
Labour spokesperson on health Ms Liz McManus said today the Government has reneged on its commitment to have an open-ended debate on the legislation.
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"To make matters worse the Government is attempting to take the next stage of this bill within the confines of a Dáil committee," she said.
Fine Gael claimed the Taoiseach has not answered questions about the constitutional wording of the legislation.
A Fine Gael spokesman told ireland.comthe Government has failed to clear up the "ambiguities surrounding the legislation". He said: "Mr Ahern posed as many questions as he answered".
Fine Gael and Labour will be opposing a vote in the Dáil tonight to have the legislation pass into the committee stage.
Fine Gael has tabled a reasoned amendment to postpone the Second Reading of the 25th Amendment of the Constitution (Protection of Human Life in Pregnancy) Bill 2001.
Fine Gael and Labour say the committee stage of the bill should be heard by a plenary session of the Dáil and not by select committee.
Labour says this is the practice for every bill to amend the Constitution and the attempt by the Government to change this precedent is proof it is running scared on the issue.