The Minister for Social Protection has said trade union leaders who have not taken pay cuts should perhaps reflect on that.
Reacting to reports in today's newspapers, Joan Burton said trade union workers' salaries are a matter for the individuals, their organisations and their members.
She said that as far as she is aware some trade union leaders have already taken pay cuts.
But she said everyone in this country has to make sacrifices and she would be surprised if leaders of the trade unions were not aware of that.
The minister added that she had a long standing view that anyone paid out of the public purse should not receive more than €200,000.
Asked whether the Government plans to levy private pension schemes in order to pay for its jobs initiatives, Ms Burton said we would have to wait until Tuesday to see what the Minister for Finance has planned.
She said the detail had not been absolutely finalised, but added that Michael Noonan had made a general proposal during the election campaign that a levy of up to 0.5% should be applied.
She said the aim of the jobs initiative was to kickstart activity in various sectors and give an opportunity to young graduates and apprentices to become interns so that they would get experience, which would help them enter the labour market.
Ms Burton added that under the EU/IMF deal, any measures would have to be cost neutral.
The minister also welcomed plans by the Financial Regulator to overhaul bank boards, saying it is important that they be refreshed.
She said good people who can ensure good governance and good accountability are needed on the boards.
The minister said she was not sure what more those who were on the boards of the banks when catastrophic decisions were made could continue to contribute.
Ms Burton was speaking in Dublin at the launch of a report on community engagement in Ireland's Developmental Welfare State.
During the launch, the minister stated that one of her priorities was reform of the pension system.
She said the Government wants to build a fair system which provides people with adequate income in their retirement, but which is sustainable.
