Employers' group IBEC has called for the Government to engage with the main Opposition parties and the social partners, to agree on a national recovery plan for the economy.
IBEC Director Turlough O'Sullivan said the Government could not further postpone implementing measures to address the economic crisis.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Mr O'Sullivan said the outline of a coherent, integrated plan must be presented for immediate consideration by the Oireachtas and the social partners.
He added that the time for pussy-footing about is long gone and the public finances need urgent attention.
In a statement this morning, Mr O'Sullivan said that the main opposition parties have indicated that they favour a consensus on what needs to be done and that the Government should take them at their word.
'For several months now IBEC has been strongly advocating the need for a coherent, integrated plan to address the economic crisis.' he added.
'[The plan] needs to bring stability to the banking sector; make a realistic and prudent start getting the public finances into balance and equally importantly, underpin and support enterprise creatively and radically in order to stop the haemorrhage of jobs.
'The time for action is now. Any further delay is simply not acceptable.'
