The Government is discriminating against women by failing to provide adequate childcare, the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) has claimed.
The NWCI said the lack of equality in the welfare system, most notably in the areas of childcare and health, was proof of an institutionalised bias against women.
Orla O'Connor, policy chief at the NWCI, claimed inequality was so rife that Minister for Social and Family Affairs Seamus Brennan has been forced to accept the system is unfair and biased.
The council is to make a pre-budget submission later this week in which it will demand improved childcare and improved access to services for women.
"Many of the inequalities which women experience have reached crisis point; issues such as childcare, social welfare, health, violence against women and women's participation in decision-making are impacting negatively on women every day," she said.
"We will be highlighting these areas and calling on the Government to provide the necessary resources to bring about the change that is long overdue."
The NWCI began a campaign last May that saw more than 12,000 men and women showing their anger at the treatment of women in social welfare policies.