Public sector workers have been urged not to pre-judge crunch talks between union chiefs and the Government over pay cuts.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) called on the Government to work with staff representatives to devise a credible long term plan to deal with the fiscal deficit in Ireland.

General Secretary David Begg said it was the responsibility of the trade unions representing each sector to strike a deal to suit its members.

"Congress as such won't be participating in the negotiations," he said.

"But at the end of the day there is a choice to be made by everybody on the end product. There's no point trying to pre-judge it at the moment and we all have to be grown up about these things on the Government side and on the union side and see what is in the best interest overall for everybody."

Kieran Mulvey and Kevin Foley of the Labour Relations Commission are facilitating talks between public sector management and unions in a bid to resolve the bitter row over pay cuts.

The apparent breakthrough came after a two-hour meeting between Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan, Environment Minister John Gormley and Congress representatives in Dublin on Thursday night.

Civil servants - who have been on a work-to-rule since January 25 in an attempt to hit the Government without causing massive disruption to the public - were due to escalate their action with rolling work stoppages in the coming weeks.

While unions are not calling off their action, it is hoped any walkouts will be deferred until the talks are over.

However, the union Siptu, which had served strike notice on seven Dublin hospitals, said its action has not been called off. Some 4,500 support staff are due to withdraw their labour for two days next month.