Ibec has warned the next government needs to tackle the high cost of doing business in this country.

The group, which represents 70% of the private sector in Ireland, say they have analysed the different party manifestos to see how they plan to help businesses to thrive.

They say there has been a recognition across the political divide that cost competitiveness is a major issue.

They also conducted a Leadership Pulse Survey of senior business leaders.

It found the most pressing issue facing businesses was the Cost of Doing Business (25%), followed by Housing (22%) and Infrastructure (21%).

Additionally, 86% of respondents believe the new government will impact the business environment, with 51% expecting a significant impact.

Fergal O’Brien, Ibec’s Executive Director of Lobbying and Influence, said: “With five days to go until the election, it’s clear that the cost competitiveness challenges facing businesses have become a central theme in this campaign, reflected in many party manifestos.

"From Ibec’s perspective, we are encouraged by the broad consensus around introducing a PRSI rebate for businesses to offset rising costs—a measure we proposed to support businesses most vulnerable to these pressures.

"While parties differ on the specifics, there is a growing recognition of the need to reform the personal taxation system, particularly regarding thresholds for higher income tax rates.

"Given the growing global uncertainty it is vital that the next Government ensures that our personal tax system remains competitive.

"Ibec recently published a new energy paper highlighting the impact of high electricity costs on Irish businesses, which remain among the highest in Europe.

"The paper outlined practical short- and long-term measures to address these costs for both businesses and households. It is encouraging to see this issue gaining prominence during the final stages of the campaign.”

In September, Ibec launched its election manifesto outlining the business priorities for the next government.

In its General Election manifesto, they warned against complacency—particularly concerning future business growth—as a significant risk.

It noted that the global landscape for Irish exporters is likely to become increasingly challenging, and the competition to attract new investment is expected to intensify during the next government's term.