Labour called for a constitutional amendment providing for the formal recognition of social, economic and cultural rights.

The party leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, moving the Twenty-First Amendment of the Constitution Bill, in private member's time, also called for an amendment dealing with equality before the law, and that the State define a set of rights for children, independent of the collective rights of parents or the family unit.

"Let me say at once that, although the subject matter of these constitutional amendments, and the manner in which we have dealt with them is close to the Labour Party's heart and reflects our thinking, I do not believe we are seeking to subvert the Constitution in the service of a philosophy that is exclusive to just one system of political thought."

Mr Quinn said it was time to revisit the State's claim to status as a true republic. "Republicanism in this country has for too long been more synonymous with nationalist rhetoric and verbiage than with any dedication to truly republican ideals."

The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, said the central issue was whether the proposals should be set out in the particular section of the Constitution.

"The Government does not believe that it is right to do so, because the delicate balances which the Constitution achieves in the area of what might be termed fundamental and human rights [which may also be classified as civil and political rights] on the one hand, and economic, social and cultural rights on the other, would be seriously disturbed."