The Opposition has criticised the announcement that the Taoiseach is to receive a pay rise of more than €38,000.
The increase, which will bring Mr Ahern's salary to €310,000 per year, is based on the terms of the report of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration that was accepted by the Cabinet earlier this week. Ministers' salaries will rise between €25,000 and €38,000.
Speaking today on RTÉ's Morning IrelandFine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton said the pay awards for Ministers and the Taoiseach should not be allocated, although he accepted that the pay increases for other senior civil and public servants should go ahead.
He said Government cannot presume that it can give itself performance-based pay awards on the basis of its current performance.
Sinn Féin said the Taoiseach's €38,000 increase was itself higher than the average industrial wage.
Under the pay review, senior civil and public servants, semi-State chief executives, judges, the heads of universities and the Garda Commissioner will also see their pay increase significantly under the review.
Overall 1,600 top-level figures in the public sector covered by the report will see their salaries increase by on average 7.3 per cent.
The increases, which will be introduced in three phases up to March 2009, will cost the exchequer about €16 million.
President George W. Bush is paid about $400,000 (€280,000) while British Prime Minister Gordon Brown receives £187,000 (€268,000).