The reinstatement of the department of equality and law reform, payment for parental leave and separate legal representation for rape victims feature in a 10-point charter for women published by the Labour Party.
Marking International Women's Day, the document also commits the party to increasing the numbers of women on State boards and government bodies, eliminating inequalities in social welfare and substantially increasing child benefit. Other pledges include a national childcare policy and a Statewide support and advice service for women at risk of violence.
Labour's spokeswoman on equality and law reform, Ms Jan O'Sullivan, said: "The Government's failure to implement the Employment Equality Act; its failure to put equal status legislation on our statute books; its failure to introduce paid parental leave and the fact that women's representation has fallen on State boards under this administration are all glaring examples of a general disinterest in women's issues."
