Pay rises for doctors and nurses are likely to be considered under a new public sector pay deal.

The Irish Times reports that pay hikes are to be offered for public sector staff who are proving hard to retain.

A commission on public pay is to be set up in the coming months to avoid industrial unrest and to lay the ground work for the successor to the Lansdowne Road agreement.

It's understood the new deal could iclude pay hikes of up to 6.5 per cent for nurses, doctors and other staff who are difficult to retain.