Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil meet today in the culmination of a series of special parliamentary meetings ahead of the new Dáil term this week.
All parties will be focusing on the Budget, next month's referendums and next year's local and European elections.
Speaking at Fine Gael's meeting in Co Laois, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan warned of a tough budget next month.
However, he said it was too early to say if the adjustment to be made would be less than €3.1bn.
Mr Noonan said the scale of the adjustment to be made would not become clear until it has access to the tax returns for September, or CSO projections of growth for next year.
He said the Government's objective was to arrive at a figure that would allow the Government to collect more in tax, than it actually spends.
However, Mr Noonan said whatever figure was decided, the Budget would be difficult.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has insisted that it is too early for ministers to take decisions on the scale and nature of cuts in next month's budget.
Mr Kenny said there would be a special Cabinet meeting when tax and spending figures were available over the coming weeks.
Party members will also hear from experts and business figures about the prospects for the economy and jobs.
They are due to consider the campaign in the Seanad referendum tomorrow.
A Fine Gael backbencher has called for a reduction in the application of the party whip on certain issues that come before TDs.
Speaking to RTÉ News, Eoghan Murphy said that TDs should be allowed to vote freely without being directed by their party on certain pieces of proposed legislation.
Elsewhere, Labour TDs and Senators will have real concerns about their poll ratings as they meet in Enfield, Co Meath.
Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore has conceded that there were some promises the party had made at election that it was not able to deliver.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said the party had kept its promises on the minimum wage and the universal charge.
On recent opinion polls showing Labour trailing behind Fianna Fáil, Mr Gilmore said he did not believe the electorate would reward the party that had caused the crisis and punish the party that had solved it.
Speaking later in Enfield, Mr Gilmore insisted he will lead the party into the next general election despite the opinion poll ratings.
Deputy leader Joan Burton said she was very happy doing the job she is doing when asked if she wanted to become the party's next leader.
Mr Gilmore described his working relationship with Ms Burton as excellent, while she described it as very good.
Fianna Fáil will be looking at its crucial local election strategy at its gathering in Waterford.
Billy Kelleher said think-ins are "critically important" for Opposition parties to bring forward policies and not just "populist" set-piece events.
Mr Kelleher said the party will be insisting the Government brings forward a Budget that is fair.
Michael McGrath said he is satisfied with the progress the party has made since the general election in 2011.
He said the party was not getting carried away and the focus has to be to present itself as a credible and responsible Opposition party.
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