The Government is being urged to drop €500 million of planned tax hikes in the next budget.
IBEC, the group that represents Irish Business, says any further tax burden will undermine growth and set back any recovery.
Today the group launches its Budget 2014 submission - its calling for new measures to rebuild consumer confidence and to support job creation.
Fergal O Brien, chief economist with IBEC, wants the Government to use this budget to signal that the end of austerity is in sight:
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SIPTU critical
SIPTU's criticising IBEC's call for no tax increases - calling it a sheep in wolves clothing.
In a statement this morning, SIPTU president Jack O'Connor says it's a tactic to support the wealthy and inflict more misery on the less well off.
But the union is joining IBEC in calls for an end to austerity.
SIPTU says the government can achieve the 3% deficit target by the end of 2015, without inflicting more misery on the majority of citizens, if the rich contributed more in taxes:
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