Members of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a campaign of action at public hospitals.
Over 93% of members have voted in favour of taking action in response to the advertising by the Health Service Executive of 68 consultant posts without its agreement on a contract.
IHCA Secretary General, Finbarr Fitzpatrick said the ballot gave a very clear mandate to respond to the instruction from Health Minister Mary Harney to advertise the posts.
In response to the announcement by the IHCA, Minister Harney said that the decision to embark on a course of action aimed at blocking the recruitment of new consultants is both unnecessary and unjustifiable.
She added that patients will be 'baffled to see consultants frustrating the filling of new consultant posts across the health system.'
The IHCA's national council will meet next Saturday to decide what form the action will take.
