Employers' group Ibec has called on the Government to provide an additional €6 billion in supports for businesses in the upcoming Budget.
In a pre-Budget submission, Ibec said the economy "is not yet ready to carry itself" and that the Irish business model faces its most significant challenge in over half a century.
Ibec said the government could and should run a deficit of €30 billion this year but it should also do "whatever it takes to combat the economic crisis while it lasts".
That means running another substantial deficit of €15 billion next year. It recommends the new wage subsidy scheme should be reduced gradually beyond its current limits and only be removed from companies when revenues return to 90% of normal.