The business pillar of the social partners has reiterated its refusal to renegotiate the pay element of the Partnership for Prosperity and Fairness.
At a meeting in Government buildings yesterday IBEC's director general, Mr Turlough O'Sullivan, said a renegotiation of the pay element of the deal could not be countenanced.
IBEC and the other organisations including the Small Firms' Association, the Construction Industry Federation and the Irish Exporters' Association, also outlined their priorities for the December Budget.
They emphasised an overall package implementing the PPF in full and focusing on lower and middle income earners.
But there was little detail with so many different groups present. IBEC will submit its Budget proposals next week when it is expected to call for cuts in the higher rate of tax to be deferred. The CIF submission, however, is expected to back the Tanaiste Ms Harney's recent call for a two percentage point cut in higher rate tax, said Mr Liam Kelleher, CIF director general.
Following a presentation by officials of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions' view that a pay renegotiation is crucial (the ICTU made its case last week), business leaders focused on the problems in the labour market. The small firms representatives in particular pointed to the pressure which the minimum wage, and the difficulties of retaining staff, have already had on their businesses.
But the ICTU's overall package on childcare was supported. A renewed focus on the housing market was another demand. Mr Kelleher insisted such a package should focus on measures to increase supply and deliver on the National Development Plan.