The Tanaiste says trade unions need time to consider the detail of the Croke Park extension deal.

It comes as the National Executive Council of SIPTU and the Executive Committee of UNITE meet separately today to discuss their response proposals.

UNITE walked out of the negotiations before a deal was reached and is to recommend its members vote against it. The union represents around 20,000 public sector workers.

'We will be maximising the no vote'

Jimmy Kelly of UNITE says after recommending his members reject Croke Park 2 his union will join others in actively campaigning for a no vote.

"We will be making it clear what the recommendation is from our executive members to UNITE members in the public sector - and we will be in process as well, linking up with other unions like the INMOU, the CPSU, and the IMO" he said.

"We will be part of a joint campaign....maximising the no vote" he added.

While SIPTU will not decide its recommendation until next week president Jack O'Connor has said public servants would be better served by one centralised agreement with the government on pay and conditions, but says he is not sure the current deal is the right one.

Speaking on his way into Government Buildings the Tanaiste and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said the unions need time and space.