Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore has said he is hopeful the Government could take decisions as early as this summer regarding savings in public expenditure.
Asked if it was now certain that there would be further public sector wage cuts before 2014, Mr Gilmore said the Government was very clearly determined in implementing reforms, which were outlined in the Croke Park deal.
He said the Government has agreed the comprehensive expenditure review, but if it was possible to identify savings then that would be done.
Asked if such decisions could take place as soon as the summer, Mr Gilmore said hopefully.
Mr Gilmore also said he was not surprised that the International Monetary Fund had significantly reduced its growth forecast for Ireland - saying it was one of several forecasts and it was not certain that the Department of Finance would follow suit.
The IMF downgraded its growth prediction for Ireland this year from around 1% to 0.5%.
The minister was speaking in Luxembourg where he is attending an EU Council meeting focused on developments in Libya.
A report by Amnesty International suggested that forces loyal to the Libyan leader had executed rebel soldiers it captured.
Mr Gilmore said the twin priorities for the Government and the EU was avoiding civilian casualties and ensuring the conflict was not prolonged.
