Labour Party members voted on motions centered on social protection, transport and justice on the final day of the party conference in Wexford.
Speaking on the controversy that broke out earlier this week over the ownership of the new National Maternity Hospital, Mr Howlin said the hospital must be owned by the State or the Government should consider another site.
Brendan Howlin: National Maternity Hospital must be owned by the State https://t.co/MkakeNCUwQ pic.twitter.com/dW9Tzjxbmo
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) April 23, 2017
Mr Howlin also said he hoped the Citizens' Assembly would give the Oireachtas the authority to legislate on Ireland's abortion laws.
Last night he said he was in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment, not replacing it.
It was his first time addressing the Labour Party conference as party leader.
He also criticised the minority Government and described it as "a sham".
Mr Howlin stressed workers rights, and the need for an additional capital investment in schools, hospitals and housing. He said that communities were being let down by a "do-nothing Government".
He accused Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Independents of showing no ambition and he also accused Minister for Transport Shane Ross of twiddling his thumbs during the Bus Éireann controversy.
