The hospital consultants union have said they will not cooperate with the recruitment process for 50 new consultants.
Advertisement for the new consultant positions are due to be announced by Health Minister Mary Harney next week.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week programme, Assistant General Secretary of the Irish Medical Organisation Donal Duffy said hospital consultants are opposed to the recruitment.
However, he also said that nurses pay claims should be dealt with first.
