Discussions with the social partners have been deferred in the light of SIPTU's withdrawal from talks on a successor to Partnership 2000.
It is not clear what commitments SIPTU will seek from the Government to re-enter the talks, or if the talks can be salvaged at all.
The Irish Business and Employers' Confederation made it clear last night it saw no prospect for meaningful talks in SIPTU's absence. Its director of employee relations, Mr Turlough O'Sullivan, said there was a serious possibility of a free for all when Partnership 2000 expires.
Yesterday's meeting in Government Buildings went ahead despite the boycott by SIPTU. The general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Mr Peter Cassells, insisted that talks should begin regardless. He welcomed the Budget improvements for workers on average industrial earnings but said its failure "to introduce any substantial improvements for low-paid workers is unacceptable".
The president of ICTU, Ms Inez McCormack, said there were "serious problems in relation to the low paid and social exclusion" and asked for a response from the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
By far the largest contribution to the debate came from representatives of the "third pillar", which represents the community and voluntary sector. Mr Mike Allen, of the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, said the Budget breached understandings reached in discussions at the National Economic and Social Council and had seriously damaged the prospects for a new agreement.
He accused the Government of using budgetary policy "as a tool to radically increase the disparities between rich and poor". He also said the way tax credits and allowances were being individualised was "highly divisive and is not underpinned by other necessary measures, such as childcare and welfare individualisation".
The Budget was effectively holding down the incomes of welfare recipients and the low paid, "in many cases holding these incomes below the poverty line". Father Sean Healy of the Conference of Religious of Ireland said Department of Finance forecasts showed there would be no resources left for social inclusion. The Budget provisions and the commitments Mr McCreevy gave for subsequent years meant that the funds needed to ensure social inclusion and equality were at the core of social partnership would not be available.
Afterwards the deputy general secretary of the Civil and Public Service Union, Ms Rosaleen Glacken, called for a more constructive debate on the proposal to individualise tax rates. Her union is overwhelmingly female in membership.
Ms Glacken said the present vicious cycle forced many women into the role of sole homemaker. It could be broken only if budgetary policy was complemented by "gender-neutral, child-centred policies which allow both parents combine work and family responsibilities".
This could best be achieved by introducing measures such as paid parental leave and ensuring that childless double-income couples did not benefit more from tax relief than single-income families.
She warned that simply reversing Mr McCreevy's proposals in this area would transfer tax benefits from people on £17,000 a year to people on £34,000 or more. She also urged significant increases in child benefit.