The Minister for Health, Mary Harney, has said the decision by consultants to undertake industrial action is both unnecessary and unjustifiable.
Over 93% of members of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association have voted in favour of taking action at public hospitals in response to the advertising of 68 new posts without its agreement on a contract.
The association's national council will meet next Saturday to review their position with the target date of 21 May set for the commencement of action.
