However, Brian Cowen said there must be engagement by the unions on reforms that will reduce costs.
Answering Opposition questions in the Dáil, Mr Cowen said there was no way Budget decisions to cut pay rates taken two months ago could be reversed.
Sinn Féin's Caoimghín Ó Caoláin was critical of the decision to include bonus payments in the calculation of pre-reduction salary for senior civil servants.
Mr Ó Caoláin claimed that 'the closer you are to the Minister, the less you will suffer'.
Mr Cowen insisted that these officials had seen their pay reduced by around 24%.
He confirmed to Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore that the number of officials involved was 'close to 600'.
A motion calling for a reversal of the exemption for senior civil servants was not put to a vote at tonight's meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.
Both the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance spoke at the meeting to explain the Government's decision.
The Government has said that imposing the full cut on top of the withdrawal of bonuses would have had a 'disproportionate' impact on the individuals concerned.
Tonight's motion was put down by Mattie McGrath of Tipperary South and Dublin North's Michael Kennedy, but was not put to a vote.
Earlier, Fine Gael Finance Spokesman Richard Bruton said the reversal of pay cuts was unfair to lower-paid workers.
