Justice Minister Alan Shatter (pictured) is to set up a taskforce to examine a possible new wording for the Constitutional provision relating to women in the home with a view to putting it to voters.

The move comes in the wake of the decision of the Constitutional Convention that the provision should be amended rather than removed.

Currently, the provision reads: “In particular, the State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved.

“The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home.”

The Convention decided, in line with recommendations of submissions from, among others,  the Iona Institute and Curam, which advocates for carers in the home, both of whom argued for the amendment as against the deletion of the article.

Eighty eight percent of the delegates were in favour of changing the article, while only 11pc believed that the article should be left as it is.

Mr Shatter noted that the Convention did not offer an alternative wording for the article, but had favoured changing the clause to make it gender neutral.

He said: “The inclusion of a reference by the convention to the issue of carers is the reason why it is not possible to offer a more specific timeframe for a referendum to take on board the overarching recommendation at this time.

“Extensive consultations will be necessary, including with Government colleagues and their officials, on the new elements and the appropriate choice of language for incorporation into the Constitution.

“ I am establishing a task force in my Department to look at the issues, collaborating with other Departments and the Office of the Attorney General as necessary, with a view to completing the task and reporting back to Government by 31 October 2014.”

Mr Shatter also noted that a majority of participants at the convention “also recommended that the State should offer a ‘reasonable level of support’ to ensure that those to whom the newly constructed amendment should apply ‘shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour’.”