Minister for Health Mary Harney intervened in the controversy over Cabinet salary increases when she said last night there was "a lot of merit" in the idea of a moratorium.
Responding to a question on the issue, she hinted at a delay in phasing in the pay rises.
Speculation is intensifying that the Government will take an initiative to defuse the continuing controversy.
Although Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has not made his own position clear, he is said to be "mindful" of the different views around the Cabinet table.
Given his lengthy involvement in social partnership negotiations, the Taoiseach is believed to be gravely concerned about the negative impact the Cabinet pay awards could have on negotiations with unions which begin in February.
Earlier, Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan held out the prospect of a policy shift when she said on Today FM yesterday the Government would "evaluate" the increases on the basis that public finances were tighter than expected.
Green Party Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan and Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea have also expressed an interest in discussing the issue at Cabinet. Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív has already admitted to being "very uncomfortable" about the pay rises.
A Government spokesman said last night he had "no further comment" on the matter.
The Cabinet meets tomorrow morning amid suggestions about a possible move either this week or in the near future to defer the pay rises for Ministers while proceeding with salary increases for judges and top civil servants.
The statutory instrument for implementing the ministerial pay rises has not yet been signed by the Taoiseach and it is expected this will provide an opportunity for Ministers to discuss the issue.
However, there is no question of simply refusing the pay increase and it is argued that this could also cause problems with the unions who would then be placed under pressure to reciprocate.
An opinion article on the subject in Saturday's Irish Timesby former taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald has been read in Government circles. In an interview on RTÉ's The Week in Politicslast night, Ms Harney said: "Could I just say, Garret FitzGerald has a very reflective article yesterday [ Saturday] in The Irish Timeswhere he argued that perhaps there should be a moratorium now on increases over the next number of years. And I think there is a lot of merit in that."
Ms Harney was keen to point out that the review body had recommended phasing in the pay increases over a period up to 2009.
"There may well be issues around that," she added. Her comments have fuelled speculation that the phased payments to Ministers could be rescheduled so that the increases would be paid as late as possible.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern indicated his opposition to any attempt to reopen the debate when he told Newstalk: "The Government have already made a decision in relation to it."
A Fine Gael spokesman said: "What we are seeing now is desperation politics from the Fianna Fáil/PD/Green Government who have seen their pay hike go down like a lead balloon with the electorate."
