The head of the Fiscal Advisory Council is standing by the group's assessment that more budget cuts are needed.
The council is the independent body established to monitor and report on government budget policy.
Last month, it recommended a further €1.9bn in austerity measures for 2014 and 2015, which is more than the government had planned.
Speaking at the Institute of Public Administration's annual conference, John McHale said more cuts are needed to make sure Ireland's debt is stabilised and he said everything has to be considered.