Repeal of the eighth amendment - providing for the equal right to life of the mother and the unborn - will be part of the Labour Party's election manifesto, Tánaiste Joan Burton said on Monday.

Speaking in advance of the party’s think in Co Wicklow, Ms Burton said “we will have that in our election platform and hopefully we will be a key part of the next Government. We will be discussing that as part of any negotiations”.

She also said the party could have its manifesto ready for a general election within days if needs be.

Ms Burton said it was her belief the Fine Gael and Labour coalition should go the full-term, which would mean the election being held in spring 2016.

She said: “I have said I want the Government to see out its mandate. The date is primarily for the choice of the Taoiseach.

“My view is that we took on a very big job of work when we agreed to take over practically the ruins of a modern economy when we took office.

“We should stay the course and finish the job as much as we can and then go to the people.”

Labour's deputy leader Alan Kelly said a lot of work had been done on the party's election manifesto and it would be ready if an election was called at short notice.

Mr Kelly said he will be briefing members on its contents at the Labour party autumn think-in which is taking place in Co Wicklow on Monday.

Ms Burton said Labour would have a “very ambitious” manifesto focused on recovery.

The Tánaiste also said she wants to see the phasing out of the Universal Social Charge over a number of years and the full restoration of the Christmas bonus which is paid to long-term social welfare recipients in December.