The Taoiseach has said he is sticking to the commitment he made when he took office that the Government would complete its full term.
But addressing the Ibec President's dinner in Dublin tonight, Simon Harris said "that [election] is not all that far away".
His comments come amid growing speculation about the timing of the next general election.
Mr Harris told the audience that today was his 150th day in the job and promised he would work as hard as he could every single day as Taoiseach.
He said that when the election does come people will have a stark choice.
"Pragmatism, populism. Hope or hopelessness. Unity and putting the shoulder to the wheel and working with people, or dividing them, the off with the head brigade every time there is a crisis," he said.
Mr Harris said there is no doubt that the country faces challenges but working together the barriers can be removed.
Speculation that the general election could take place in the days and weeks following the Budget on 1 October has been intensifying in recent weeks, as expectations of a "giveaway" budget grow.
Reacting to the comments a spokesperson for Sinn Féin said Mr Harris "seems more intent on glib soundbites and speculation than focusing on tackling the myriad of problems 13 years of Fine Gael in government have created".
The spokesperson added that soundbites will not fix the crises in housing, homelessness, healthcare and cost-of-living and "this coalition is out of ideas and the political will to govern fairly or effectively".
Additional reporting Joe Mag Raollaigh
