Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin has suggested that the Government should delay refunding those who paid their water charges until next year so the money can be spent on the health service now.
Mr Howlin said that while people must be refunded, the money - some €178m - could be better spent on health.
He said he did not think anyone could object to this.
In terms of the upcoming Budget, Mr Howlin emphasised spending on public services over giving what he said was a tax cut that amounted to the cost of a cup of coffee each week.
He said his party would be advocating that all the money available should be spent in next year's budget on public services.
Labour is also preparing for the next general election after the collapse of its vote in 2016.
The party, which is meeting in Athy in Co Kildare, aims to double the number of its TDs from the seven returned to Leinster House last year.
.@labour family photo at think-in in Athy @rtenews pic.twitter.com/I6LEDkGNEf
— Martina Fitzgerald (@MartinaFitzg) September 10, 2017
Mr Howlin criticised Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fine Gael saying they are not centrists.
He said the party was a member of Europe's conservative right-wing political family and he said of all the members of the previous government, Mr Varadkar best represented the views of conservative Christian Democracy.
He said Mr Varadkar had looked for deeper social welfare cuts in 2011. He also said Mr Varadkar had initially opposed the repeal of the Eighth Amendment and the gender recognition legislation.
He also criticised Fianna Fáil for proposing tax breaks for developers and he said Sinn Féin should take its seats at Westminster in the interests of Ireland.
The Labour leader is keeping his option open on the party's coalition prospects after the election, saying it would be arrogant to rule anyone in or out.
However, the party will have to rebuild significantly if it wants to enter the next government.
Last year the party's vote collapsed, losing 30 seats, and since then various opinion polls suggest it has around 7% support.
In a bid to improve its electoral strategy and success at the next poll, a key official behind the British Labour Party's 2017 election campaign will address the meeting.
And this evening, the party will select its candidate to contest Kildare South - a constituency where Labour will need to win back a seat if party leader Brendan Howlin's plan to rebuild the party is to be a success.
Mr Howlin said his party would make corporate tax justice a key priority and would make the withdrawal of refundable tax credits from companies who are paying no tax at all.
He also stated that if companies do not pay their staff decent wages, they should no longer be benefiting from reduced VAT rates.
On housing, he said there was no reason why a vacant property levy could not be imposed and said capital spending should be dramatically increased.
He also wants to set a target of getting 75% of people into work by 2022.
