The Officers and Executive Committee were elected at the AGM by these delegates, as well as an LWNC representative on the Administrative Council (the then ruling body of the Party).

In 1981 Eileen Desmond was appointed Minister for Health and Social Welfare, which she remained (with a short gap in 1982) until 1987 The LWNC and its members were active in the Abortion and Divorce referendums of the 1980s.

In the run-up to the general election of 1992, the Labour Party selected the highest ever number of women candidates, many activists in the LWNC.

Through the 1990s the LWNC continued to be active, both in supporting the Labour Party in opposition and in government and in urging it to deliver policies and programmes relevant to the needs of women.

The LWNC was active in the successful campaign led by Mervyn Taylor, the Minister for Equality and Law Reform for the passing of the Referendum to allow divorce.

At the end of the decade, the Labour Party and Democratic Left united, with the LWNC receiving an injection of new members.

Labour Women has continued its campaign for reproductive rights in the long aftermath of the abortion referendums of the 1980s and 1990s.

It has also continued, like the NWCI of which it could now be an affiliate, to work for improved representation of women in all areas of decision-making, including the political arena.