Hospital consultants have warned they will withdraw from all but emergency services in three weeks time if a dispute over a new insurance scheme is not resolved.
The Department of Health and Children imposed the new scheme from today without the agreement of consultants.
The Irish Hospital Consultants Association said the scheme would leave consultants without insurance cover for all past claims for personal injuries.
An emergency meeting of the association voted to withdraw their services in all public and private hospitals from 23 February.
Earlier, the Irish Medical Organisation said that introducing the new scheme was a clear breach of consultants' contracts as there was no agreement and is referring the matter to the National Implementation Body.
The Minister for Health, Micheal Martin, said this was an over-reaction to a scheme which will benefit both doctors and patients.
