The Minister for Public Expenditure has said there has been no talking from him or his department about penalising public-sector workers.

Paschal Donohoe was responding to Opposition questions relating to teachers and gardaí who are outside collective pay agreements.

“The Government has to, and will, respect and keep faith with the decisions of the vast majority of public servants to come within the Lansdowne Road agreement,’’ said Mr Donohoe.

“The benefits of and the protections afforded by the agreement will therefore apply to those people who are inside the framework.

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Mr Donohoe said he had made clear he was putting equal focus on the 23 unions inside the agreement, while putting due focus on the three representative bodies outside it.

He said pay issues for public servants were currently determined within the constraints set by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Fempi), while the industrial relations environment was managed under the terms of the Public Service Agreement 2013- 2018.

Sinn Féin spokesman David Cullinane said those outside the agreement had asked for issues to be addressed. He said the Minister had no plan outside the agreement for public servants.

Fianna Fáil spokesman Dara Calleary asked if the Minister had plans to enter into a process with new entrants into the civil and public service about their allowances and terms and conditions.

Mr Donohoe said those matters would be looked at, and there would be engagement with the unions inside the agreement’s terms.

AAA-PBP TD Richard Boyd Barrett said the Minister was putting a gun to the head of public service workers: "That gun is called Fempi."