The Tánaiste Joan Burton has confirmed the issue of abortion will be part of the Labour Party manifesto for the next general election.

Labour says it wants to see a vote on whether or not to repeal the 8th Amendment, which gives equal rights in the Constitution to the mother and her unborn child.

Ms Burton is currently engaging in a series of country-wide meetings to look at the party's policy platform coming up to the election.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has previously said there will not be a referendum on the subject before the next election.

He told the Dáil last month that complex issues would need to be negotiated, and "it's not simply a case of removing or repealing the 8th Amendment and that everybody is happy afterwards. It's not that way."

Ms Burton said other issues - such as fatal foetal abnormalities - would also have to be dealt with.

Speaking on the Pat Kenny Show, hosted by Shane Coleman, she stopped short of describing Labour as a pro-choice party.