Prison officers will be asked today whether they should consider strike action if the government introduces pay cuts through legislation.

The annual conference of the Prison Officers Association is getting underway in Athlone and Croke Park II is just one of the items up for discussion.

The POA voted in favour of the proposals after its executive secured a deal to preserve some premium payments in exchange for extra flexibility.

And Stephen Delaney, President of the Prison Officers Association, says it wouldn't be fair to now force the original cuts on his members:

He added, that a certain percentage of his members are already struggling to make ends meet, with increasing numbers having trouble with their mortgage.

"Five years of austerity has had a massive impact on prison officers and their families. Many are hurting and are under great financial pressure.

"Our commitment to this crisis cannot be questioned. It is outrageous that the Government would again target prison officers by introducing pay cuts to resolve a problem which we did not create."

Last weekend the CEO of the Labour Relations Commision, Kieran Mulvey warned unions that the Government will impose pay cuts and increment freezes if a deal to reduce the public sector pay bill is not reached within two weeks.

Already a number of public sector unions have threatened strike action, if the Government enforces pay cuts.

The Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU) threatened strike, while the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) has already ruled out re-entering negotiations.

The TUI, CPSU, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, the Association of Secondary Teachers' of Ireland, Siptu and the Irish Nurses' and Midwives' Organisation all voted against the first deal - despite the Government's threat of unilateral pay cuts and reforms.