Public service unions are due to meet today to consider a government invitation to talks on the future of the Croke Park Agreement.

It comes amid reports that the target being set for a new round of savings could be as high as €1 billion.

Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin says the government wants to see further improvements in productivity and a reduction in the cost of delivering public services.

They are hoping agreement can be reached early in the New Year as efforts continue to meet the deadlines of our bailout programme.

Some issues that could be on the table include longer working hours with no extra pay, premium pay rates and increments.

If all goes to plan negotiations could get underway next week. 

However first the unions have to accept the invitation to talks.

The public services committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is due to meet today to discuss the issue.

"We all have to give more"

Minister Howlin told Brekafast here on Newstalk he wants another €1 billion worth of savings in the public sector by 2016.

And he says fairness will be the hallmark of the new round of talks with unions.

"In terms of the regular bulk of public servants - teachers, nurses guards and so on - I think they made a significant contribution" he said.

"But I think that if you look objectively at it, they have security of tenure, they have a decent pension system in train and we are in a desperate situation".

When asked if that means that they will have to give more, he replied "Well I"m afraid that"s true of everybody in the public service as it true of everybody in the nation".