The Cabinet has approved a package of significant pay increases for Government ministers and senior civil and public servants.
The review body on higher remuneration in the public service recommended increases of around 6 to 8 per cent.
Those covered by the report include Ministers, senior civil servants, judges and senior local authority and health service managers.
About 1,700 hospital consultants would also benefit. The report is to be published in the coming days by the Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, who will also reveal when the new rates will come into effect.
The pay review was carried out by a group headed by chairman of the C&C Group Tony O'Brien. The Taoiseach Mr Ahern defended the pay rises, saying on a percentage basis, they were lower than those received by other civil servants under benchmarking.
Ministers received increases of 20 per cent under a report by a top-level pay review body in September 2000.