The Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, has hinted at the possibility of increases in take-home pay after the next Budget.
The Budget will be delivered by Mr McCreevy's successor after he takes up the position as Commissioner for the Internal Market in Brussels.
But speaking at one of his last public engagements in Co Kildare today, the Minister said comments by ICTU general secretary Mr David Begg, that pay would increase, were "logical".
"What Mr Begg has said is what most people would expect in any event," he told reporters at the opening of the €60 million State Laboratory in Kildare.
"The Programme for Government says quite clearly what is intended to do and I think Mr Begg has drawn the logical conclusion from that," he added.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions votes tomorrow of the new pay deal, which will deliver 5.5 per cent pay rises over 18 months. Congress is likely to vote in favour of the deal after the State's biggest union endorsed it yesterday.
Siptu said that members had voted by a margin of 70 per cent to 30 per cent to support the deal, agreed in June between employers, unions and the Government.