The doctors' union, the IMO, has decided to defer a decision on the new 'Haddington Road' public service agreement on pay and reform for two weeks.

The IMO says it acknowledges that the proposed agreement represented progress compared to the proposals put forward in the recent Croke Park II agreement which was rejected in a ballot of its members.

However, the Council of the IMO decided to defer making a decision on the proposals at a meeting last night and has said it will consider the matter further at a special meeting in two weeks time.

The IMO says it has concerns over the inequitable treatment of doctors in regard to non-restoration of pay and increment reductions in the new proposals.

It said it was it is inequitable that doctors earning over €100,000 should not have the imminent cuts in their salary restored in due course, as was proposed for all other workers.

"This has the potential to further damage the ability of the Irish Health service to attract and retain talented doctors", the IMO claims.

The union has asked the Government to reconsider this matter.