Unions and Employers' groups edged closer to a national pay agreement but first they must put the deal to their members tomorrow.
Unions will consider their reactions to the deal tomorrow after a meeting last night deferred a decision on the issue.
Employers' groups will also meet separately to discuss the proposals tomorrow.
Both sides seemed positive after the proposals were tabled and most commentators think the deal will now go ahead once the small details have been ironed out.
Yesterday ICTU President Mr Joe O'Toole said the proposals were "imaginative and attractive" and represented "a very substantial outcome".
Mr Turlough O'Sullivan of employers' organisation IBEC said "from our point of view the proposals certainly represent a package that can be considered by both sides".
"They are realistic figures there we can deal with," Mr Des Gerahty of SIPTU said.
The deal suggests a 7 per cent pay increase staggered over 18 months. Public servants would also receive the full payment of the increases due under the benchmarking body, averaging 8.9 per cent, by June 2005.
The exact terms of the compromise reached on two non-pay issues will depend on whether union leaders support the deal.
They want workers' rights to be represented by unions and the employers' insistence of full compliance measures incorporated in the new agreement.
IBEC's general council is likely to adopt a final position early next month following consultations with sectoral and regional representatives.
The plan was drawn up by Mr Ahern; the Tánaiste, Ms Harney; and the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy.