The Health Minister Simon Harris has said he intends to turn down a €4,000 pay rise.

Government Ministers are set to reject the increase, which will otherwise kick in on April 1, at a cabinet meeting tomorrow.

Junior Health Minister Finian McGrath has said TDs need to "stop whinging" and also give up their €2,700 pay rise.

Minister Simon Harris agrees, but added TDs pay should stay linked to the Civil Service.

He said: "TDs being linked to civil service pay - going down when they go down and going up when they go up - largely serves the country well.

"Politicians setting their own pay - I don’t think that's a good policy.

"I certainly have no intention of taking the increase."