Sinn Féin has challenged the Taoiseach to show his socialist credentials by calling on the Government to introduce a package of childcare measures in next month's budget.
At the unveiling of his party's budget document in Dublin today, Mr Gerry Adams criticised the Government for "clamouring" to present itself as a caring, sharing government while 66,000 children had no proper food and heating.
"If every child was guaranteed as a right, as was envisaged in the 1916 Proclamation, access to quality food, shelter, education and healthcare, and to an equal stake in society then many of the problems that afflict marginalised communities would vanish," Mr Adams said.
The party says parents should be able to care for their children full time up until one year of age and that medical card qualification should be extended to everyone aged under 18.
Mr Adams also called for a review and reform of the tax system, describing it as unjust.
Among Sinn Féin's proposals are the abolition of capital allowances for developers of private hospitals. The party describes such schemes as "vehicles used by millionaires to pay little or no tax".
Sinn Féin also wants to see a "measured" increase in corporation tax, increased capital gains tax for owners of multiple residential properties and a 50 per cent tax band for incomes in excess of €100,000.