The Green Party has accused large businesses of putting their own interests ahead of society in lobbying against carbon taxes.
Speaking at the launch of the party's policy advocating carbon taxes, Green TD Mr Eamon Ryan accused large companies of acting as "a purely sectoral lobby looking after their own interests".
His comments came after The Irish Times reported that some of the largest companies in the State had already been lobbying Government ministers against the introduction of the taxes.
Major groups such as Intel, Dell, CRH, Aughinish Alumina and Irish Sugar all wrote to the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, saying the tax would jeopardise their businesses and put jobs at risk.
Mr Ryan, however, said business lobby groups were short-sighted in their opposition. "IBEC seems to be exclusively concerned about protecting the interests of a small number of large capital- and energy-intensive businesses and is failing to see the potential that could accrue to smaller and more labour-intensive Irish companies."
In its policy paper, the Green Party claims the tax, at a rate on fossil fuels of €20 per tonne of carbon dioxide gas produced, would lead to a switch to greener energy sources such as wind, and a move to less energy-intensive industries, making the Irish economy more competitive.
The policy also advocates using the estimated €825 million to be raised from the taxes to reduce VAT and PRSI on industries, and provide grants for firms to convert to greener production methods. The money would also be used to increase social welfare payments to low-income families who face higher heating bills, under the Greens' plan.
Ministers are at odds over how to introduce the taxes, with concerns being expressed by the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, about the potential of the taxes to damage industry and competitiveness.
Mr Cullen has pointed out that Ireland's emission levels are among the worst in the world, and that the country faces fines of more than €1.5 billion for failing to meet its greenhouse gas targets under the Kyoto agreement.
Meanwhile, the proposal that Moneypoint - the coal-fired electricity station which is the largest single source of carbon dioxide emissions in the State - either close or convert to gas is unlikely to go ahead. Conversion would cost more than €500 million, and the Department has been told by the ESB that it would lead to an over-reliance on gas and oil.