The Taoiseach has said any new pay deal for public sector workers would have to improve productivity in the public services.
Micheál Martin also said any new deal that emerges would protect lower-paid workers, who he said did “particularly well out of previous agreements”.
Formal negotiations between the Government and trade unions are expected to get under way at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on Monday.
Mr Martin said both the unions and the Government would put forward their perspectives, saying: “I will not get into specifics of where all of that lands. But we have always had a view of being of the position of protecting lower-paid workers within the public service.”
Asked for his views on comments by Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary that the Government would roll over in the talks, he said: “We believe in the public service very strongly and it is essential in any civilised democracy that we have a strong public service that delivers services for people.
“Obviously there has to be value for money. Obviously there has to be productivity and all of that and that has always been our position.”
Mr Martin said he was “open to an agreement that is affordable, that can advance the productivity within the public service and that would give particular protection to low paid workers”.
On Friday, it was announced by the Ictu Public Services Committee that a second day of nationwide strike action due to be held on Wednesday would not go ahead.
It came two days after more than 300,000 civil and public servants went on a 24-hour strike looking for a pay deal to be expedited.
An independent chair, Kevin Foley, has now been appointed to conduct an intensive process aimed at establishing a basis for formal negotiations at the WRC.
He will be assisted in his task by one trade union nominee and one employer nominee.
Over the weekend stakeholders were working towards creating a document setting out the basis on which formal negotiations can proceed.
Mr Foley met Ictu general secretary Owen Reidy, the trade union representative and Oonagh Buckley, secretary general of the Department of the Environment, who is the nominated Government representative, at the Fórsa trade union’s Dublin offices.
They confirmed an agreement had been reached for formal pay talks to begin.
A circular from Siptu on Friday told members while next Wednesday’s strike action has been deferred, work-to-rule action remains in place, where operational.
“This development represents an important step forward, but there is still a pressing need to rebuild trust and confidence in public service industrial relations and secure a fair agreement for workers,” said Adrian Kane, deputy general secretary of the public service branch of Siptu.
“Our action has brought the parties to the table. We must now ensure that this process delivers a fair outcome for public service workers,” he added.
While the Government previously allocated €1.2bn in Budget 2027 for a new pay deal, there has been speculation about how much more would need to be added and where that money would come from.
Unions have said the cost of a new deal could run to €2bn.