Irish president Mary McAleese has committed herself to taking a 10pc pay cut.

Belfast-born McAleese has decided to follow the lead of the Taoiseach and government ministers who made a similar commitment in Tuesday's Irish budget.

The sacrifice could cost her more than €60,000 per year.

She was given a total pay package worth €610,000 last year, comprising of a salary of €293,358 and an annual allowance of €317,434.

It is not yet clear whether she will deduct the money from her salary or if she will include the allowance also.

Meanwhile, Civil servants are “highly unlikely” to volunteer to take a 10pc pay cut.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan’s announcement that he and his Government colleagues would take a pay reduction is being billed as little more than a ‘PR job’.

It emerged today that the pay cut will not affect ministers’ pensions which will still be tied to the former level.

This means that their retirement benefits will still not be impacted by the wage cut.

Although 30 Secretary Generals in the civil service who earn roughly the same as a cabinet minister agreed to forego 10pc of their salaries at a private meeting last week, it’s unlikely their juniors will follow suit.

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen, who earns €285,582, will take the largest cut in his weekly salary of nearly €600 a week gross. Tanaiste Mary Coughlan will be down €500 a week on her €245,296 salary.

In Brian Lenihan's Budget speech he said he wanted other highly paid public and civil servants to join them and take a pay cut.

Judges, the head of State-owned bodies and agencies, city and county managers, the DPP and the 1,600 highest earning civil and public servants are all expected to take a pay cut.