Social Justice Ireland has said the overall level of tax intake in Ireland needs to increase to meet the needs of services such as health, education and social housing.
The independent think tank published its socio-economic review of the country today.
Speaking on RTÉs Morning Ireland, the Director of Social Justice Ireland Father Sean Healy said choices had to be made and there needed to be a serious discussion about the level of services needed and how they would be funded.
Fr Healy said there was scope to bring Ireland's tax take up to 34.9% of GDP and still keep it a low tax country.
He said one of the areas where tax could be increased was in the area of corporate taxation.
He said "It would have a dramatic impact. For example, if you were just to have an effective rate of 6%, our calculations would be that there would be an increase in a full year of a billion in the over all tax take and you could make some very good choices with that."
Fr Healy said these choices need to be made "because Ireland has been hit badly and the vulnerable in particular have been hit in services like health and education."
Fr Healy also said SJI would like to see the proposed primary care centres introduced as soon as possible and an increase in the the allowance currently being given to asylum seekers.
