The long-standing freeze on recruitment in the health service and the rest of the public sector is to continue, according to the provisions of the new deal on public service pay and reform.

The 'Haddington Road Agreement 2013-2016' as it is called, says to facilitate the necessary cut in staff numbers, the moratorium on recruitment, which has been in place since March 2009, will continue, along with other employment control mechanisms, until numbers in each sector have fallen to the appropriate level specified in the employment control framework for that sector.

The deal also provides for the Government to offer voluntary redundancy schemes where necessary in different sectors. It says there will be no compulsory redundancies in the public service, provided flexibilty on redeployment is delivered and performance issues are dealt with.

In the health sector, new entrant hospital consultants, who have already seen a major cut in their pay under last year's revised consultant contract deal, will be exempted from the pay cuts targeted at public servants earning over €65,000.

However, established doctors on higher incomes will be subject to pay cuts. These will be 5.5% for those earning between €65,000 and €80,000 and between 8% and 10% for those earning over €80,000.

Both hospital doctors and nurses will retain their double time pay on Sundays and public holidays; however, nurses will see their working week increase from 37.5 to 39 hours. Hospital doctors already have a basic working week of 39 hours.

Under the proposals, a nurse graduate placement programme will be introduced at 85% in the first year, and 90% in the second year, of the normal nurse salary scale.

Nurses will also see the restoration of the senior staff nurse increment, with effect from July 1, for all eligible staff since 2009, and it will now be automatically paid, to all new recipients, in November every year.

Junior doctors and nurses earning under €35,000 will get time and a half for overtime outside Sundays and public holidays while those earning over €35,000 will get time and a quarter.

The agreement says the new measures will lead to a revision of rosters for nurses in addition to longer shifts, a longer working day and focused working of additional hours at peak periods or to provide additional cover.

Both doctor and nursing unions have agreed to take place in a review to assess the potential for the transfer of some tasks from junior doctors to nurses. Any savings from this will go towards maintaining the 'twilight' time one sixth overtime pay for nurses.

There is agreement to move to compliance with the European Working Time Directive, which stipulates a maximum 48-hour week for junior doctors.

There has also been agreement by Government to engage in talks aimed at enhancing career and training pathways for medical school graduates.

The IMO says this is aimed at ensuring in particular on the retention of hospital consultants in the Irish system.

It says the proposals would see doctors in the public service accept any 'central measures in relation to higher pay and increments'.

The agreement also provides for cuts to pensions for staff who have already retired from the public service and whose pensions exceed €32,500. The cuts range from 2% to 8%.

The new public service deal follows lengthy talks between management and unions following the rejection of the 'Croke Park II' proposals.

The unions will consider the new proposals in the coming weeks.