Talks between the Government and the social partners on a plan to reduce government spending have ended at Government Buildings.
SIPTU president Jack O'Connor said hard issues still need to be confronted if agreement is to be reached between the Government and social partners on plans to slash public spending.
The social partners will return to Government Buildings tomorrow, as talks continue about how public spending will be cut by €2 billion this year.
Meetings took place throughout today, with little progress reported.
Detailed suggestions were tabled by the community and voluntary representatives about how Government could reduce spending, while still maintaining the same level of social services.
Unions and employers spent the afternoon reviewing progress, and discussing energy measures and proposed alterations to corporate governance rules.
But afterwards, union leaders said they still had no specific detail from Government about where the €2 billion would be cut.
The Conference of Religious in Ireland (CORI) proposed that over the next five years, the total tax take should be increased to a level 1.5% below the European average, so that the country could maintain its competitive advantage over other European countries, while at the same time broadening its tax base.
The Government is seeking to cut €2bn in spending this year, and is trying to reach agreement on a wider five-year plan to reduce spending by €16bn.
IBEC's director general has said it is unrealistic to think that every problem in the country can be solved at the current partnership talks.
Turlough O'Sullivan was reacting to suggestions by the Unite union that situations, like that unfolding at Waterford Glass, should be dealt with at partnership talks.
Mr O'Sullivan said the best the social partners could do now is put in place a big picture macro plan for the country, which it would then be up to everyone else to work with.
He was speaking on his way into this afternoon's session, where he said the main item on IBEC's agenda was the development of a package of supports for enterprise.
He also reiterated IBEC's opposition to any increases in personal or corporate taxation.
