The Minister for Health says any request for a reversal of public sector pay cuts must be viewed from a cross-Government perspective.
Leo Varadkar made the comment at the Irish Medical Organisation's AGM this afternoon.
He said the Government will seek additional productivity measures from public service staff - in return for pay restoration in forthcoming talks with trade unions.
Minister Varadkar also said free GP care for the under 6s and over 70s shouldn't be means tested.
But he conceded that it wouldn't be easy to convince all GPs to sign up to the new deal.
