The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is calling on the Minister for Justice to immediately sign in new legal rights for working mothers.
Mr McDowell is being urged to sign the commencement order to enact the Maternity Protections (Amendment ) Act 2004, which will guarantee breast-feeding breaks and standard facilities in the workplace.
"The legislation was introduced into the Dáil in 2003 and it's appalling it has still not been signed. These are important rights for working mothers and the months are simply going by with no sign of the Minister moving on the regulations." said Ms Esther Lynch, ICTU spokeswoman.
ICTU has campaigned for improvements for working parents, and the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act contains a number of new rights.
The main improvements are two half-hour breaks per day for breast-feeding, and the provision of a facility for expressing and storing breast milk.
Other improvements will also benefit fathers in the workplace, such as the provision of a once-off right to paid time to attend the two ante-natal classes immediately prior to the birth.
The ICTU is to call on employers to take the initiative in the meantime, and introduce the provisions in the act.
"This delay by the Minister in preparing the guidelines should not hold any employer back in providing these much-needed facilities and breaks," Ms Lynch said.
"We are sending a number of recommendations to the Minister to assist him in bringing the regulations forward in the quickest possible time," she added.