Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said that due consideration must be given to the recommendations of the review of abortion services.
Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Donnelly said he would concentrate on improving access to terminations at maternity hospitals and through GPs as well as introducing safe access zones.
People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith acknowledged a bill that she brought to the Dáil went further than recommendations put forward by barrister Marie O'Shea in a Government-commissioned review.
Ms O'Shea's report recommended several changes to the provision of abortion, including making the three-day wait advisory rather than mandatory as well as decriminalising the provision of abortion.
It also found shortcomings in the access to abortion and an uneven geographic spread across the country.
Operational issues have been referred to the HSE for implementation but recommendations on legislative change have been referred to the Oireachtas Health Committee.
The Government has put down a timed 12-month amendment to the bill which it says will allow time to consider Ms O'Shea's report.
Ms Smith accused the Government of "kicking to touch" issues around the provision of abortion that were contained in the review.
She said it was disgraceful that hundreds more women and girls would have to travel abroad for abortions over the next year.
Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane told the Dáil that it is the role of Government to consider the legislative changes recommended by the review of abortion services and not the Oireachtas Health Committee.
Social Democrats TD Róisín Shortall criticised the mandatory three-day wait period as a "paternalistic provision" which she said fails to recognise that most people have made up their mind before visiting a doctor.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said that since legislating for abortion, 775 women have travelled to England for services. She said this clearly illustrated the barriers that must be addressed.
Aontú TD Peadar Tóibín told the Dáil that 31,000 babies had been aborted since the law was introduced.
He said this was the equivalent of the population of Kilkenny city and he said this was truly heartbreaking for most people.
He said the abortion review shocked most people and was devoid of humanity and compassion.
Independent TD Carol Nolan said the bill contained measures that would see the abortion rate soar as the most basic protections and safeguards were stripped from the legislation.
Meanwhile, she said there remains a chronic lack of supports for women to deal with crisis pregnancies.
Earlier, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the abortion referendum followed a considerable level of constructive engagement before proposals were put to the people and he said the same should be done now.
"The issues in the report deserve significant, substantive and informed consideration by the Oireachtas before legislative proposals are contemplated," Mr Martin said.
"I think that's fair and it's in line with how we handled this issue prior to doing the referendum itself."
He said the immediate priority was to expand hospital access and the uneven spread of doctors.
Green TD Neasa Hourigan, who is currently suspended from the party, has told RTÉ News that she is likely to vote against party policy by supporting Ms Smith's Bill.
Ms Hourigan said she had not yet heard a strong commitment from the Government to imply that it will support the recommendations of the O'Shea report.
As a Government member the Green Party is backing the 12-month timed amendment to the Bill.
Sinn Féin has said it will support the Bill passing to committee stage despite disagreeing with aspects of it. A spokesperson said those could be dealt with at committee stage.
Sinn Féin also says the priority should be a timely assessment of the review at the Oireachtas Health Committee.
Labour will support the Bill.
