Fine Gael has called on the Government to formally recognise the contribution made to the economy by women working in the home.
The party's spokesman on social and family affairs, Mr Michael Ring, said it was "disgraceful" that the organisation Women in the Home (WITH) had not been included in national talks on social partnership, even though it had sought representation.
The Taoiseach responded to a question from Mr Ring in the Dail last week on the matter.
"For far too long governments have paid lip service to the contribution made by those who work in the home but now the time has come to place a value on the work done by mothers in the home and by those who care for dependent people," Mr Ring said.
"In modern society many people, parents and carers, opt to, or for economic reasons, are forced to work outside the home. However, a considerable number have chosen to stay at home and this contribution is no less valuable than 'work', which receives financial remuneration."
Mr Ring said it was about time Government recognized the value and importance of the contribution made by those who rear children or take care of elderly or sick relatives.
"It is about time these compassionate individuals had their choices, and their voices recognised."
Ms Caitriona Lynch, president of Women in the Home, told ireland.comthat the "stumbling blocks" placed in the way of women, or men, who choose to work at home needed to be removed.
Women in the Home needed a voice at national partnership talks because its views were not represented by the National Women's Council, she said.
Among them, she cited the tax individualisation process introduced by the Government in recent years a a serious impediment to women who chose to work at home.
"It's social engineering. It would be highly erroneous to say we have any problem with women working outside the home - that is not the business we are in. But we are concerned that working in the home is a way of life that is being portrayed as second class."
Ms Lynch has just returned from a meeting of FEFAF, the European women's forum, in Rome. Ireland now holds the vice presidency of that body.