"A miserliness and a coldness of heart which deeply offends women characterise State schemes to assist carers, Senator Mary Kelly (Limerick West) said.
This was to be found in many aspects of the way the State treats women, she told the conference, and surfaced most recently in the hepatitis C scandal.
The Carer's Allowance was restricted while the rate of payments to home helps was "scandalous". Labour must critically examine these schemes and improve them, she said.