The Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams says low-paid and vulnerable workers need to be the focus of any talks on pay increases.

It follows an agreement between union bosses and the Government at the LRC yesterday on the restoration of public pay.

Gerry Adams says they are still awaiting details of the so-called 'Landsdowne Road Agreement':

Fianna Fáil has been calling for pay increases in the private sector to match up with pay hikes due for public sector, saying the minimum wage should be increased to €9.20.

The opposition party is 'cautiously' welcoming the proposed agreement reached yesterday.

As part of the proposals, most public servants having their pay restored by around €2,000, over three phases between January 2016 and September 2017.

The agreement - which will be known as the Landsdowne Road Agreement - will also see the protections of the Haddington Road Agreement extended to September 2018.

The Minister for Public Expenditure, Brendan Howlin has welcomed the agreement, saying he "believes it strikes the right balance between the legitimate aspirations of public servants for pay recovery and sustaining our improving public finances".

Fianna Fáil's Spokesperson on Public Expenditure, Sean Fleming, says he wants to see the agreement in full before making a comprehensive statement:

Meanwhile the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation is expected to ballot its members in the coming weeks on the Landsdowne Road Agreement.

The organisation will now meet on Tuesday the 9th of June to analyse and consider the proposals.

Liam Doran, General Secretary of the INMO, says that there is still a lot more to be discussed:

Originally posted at 7.56am