The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has strongly criticised those employers and trade unions who, he said, were threatening social partnership. He also stressed that another Partnership 2000-type deal is crucial if the economy is to continue to perform well.

Mr Ahern said there were some signs that the Republic could be moving towards a free-for-all in terms of issues such a wage negotiation. He said there were issues of excessive pay demands, which could not be met without unravelling the terms of Partnership 2000.

"On the other hand, there are also some managers who don't seem to believe in social partnership but who have done extraordinarily well out of the very strong economy."

Mr Ahern declined to name specific groups.

"I think everyone will know who I mean," he said.

He said the four centralised pay agreements to date were hard won and involved sacrifices by all parties.

He said there were "people who weren't around 10 years ago" who had been "jumped up a bit" by the good economic decade "who were now telling us how we achieved what we collectively achieved. "Quite frankly, I resent that. People who weren't around then are the last people to be telling us what we achieved."

These people would do well to reflect on this, he added.

Mr Ahern, who was speaking before addressing the Irish Management Institute annual conference dinner in Killarney last night, said managers, workers, and taxpayers had worked extremely hard and made a lot of sacrifices to achieve economic success.

"Now we have to sustain it and we have to grow it and develop it."

He said further success would not be achieved by sectional interests, "from whatever corner they come".

Mr Ahern said unions and management were now much more aware of competitive problems and the need to be competitive in global markets. He said there were examples every day of employees changing the structure of their work through multi-skilling, agreeing to shift pattern changes and so on. It might be a good idea to look at the issue of flexibility of management too, he added.

In a speech to delegates after the conference dinner Mr Ahern said a renewal of social partnership was needed to follow on from the Partnership 2000 agreement. He acknowledged that it was not easy to sustain a such a complex process over a long period.

"Social partnership is demanding of all the participants," he said. "It requires imagination, flexibility and commitment."

Speaking on the North, Mr Ahern urged the business community to support the Belfast Agreement and - following the success he anticipated in the referendums - "to work it to maximise the agreement's full potential to the benefit of all."

He said the business community had played an important part in helping to bring about the agreement. He paid tribute to business people, both North and South, "who had worked hard for peace". "The agreement has the potential to enable the indigenous sector - both North and South - to develop, not just in terms of increased trade on this island, but also most importantly in terms of developing the critical mass necessary to project itself in the world market."