RTÉ staff are to ballot for industrial action in a dispute over pensions.
The decision was taken unanimously at a meeting attended by around 300 staff this afternoon.
There will be two separate ballots for staff.
The 1,200 employees in the defined contribution scheme, which carries no guarantee of a final pension amount, will be balloted for industrial action in pursuit of a better pension.
The 600 staff in the older guaranteed scheme will be balloted to support their colleagues seeking better pensions.
It comes as the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources discussed the issue.
Representatives of the RTÉ Trade Union Group outlined to the committee the background to a pensions dispute that threatens to trigger industrial action at the station.
Up to 1989, all RTÉ staff were entitled to join a guaranteed or defined benefit pension scheme.
However, after that date new entrants could only join a defined contribution scheme, which carries no guarantees for the employee in the event of poor market performance eroding their pension fund.
Around two-thirds of RTÉ staff, approximately 1,200 people, are now in the riskier defined contribution scheme, while only around 600 are still in the pre-1989 guaranteed scheme.
RTÉ Producer Kevin Reynolds told the Committee that this meant that two staff members on the same grade and salary could have very different pension entitlements on retirement.
The situation has been further complicated by the fact that RTÉ established a special pension scheme for certain employees.
The Trade Union Group told the committee it understands that the company is contributing up to 30% of salary for members of that scheme.
RTÉ has refused to disclose who is in the special scheme and what criteria is used in deciding who is admitted to it.
Since 1999, unions have been campaigning for access to a defined benefit scheme for all staff but negotiations have so far failed to resolved the dispute.
RTÉ has previously said that its pensions policy is not about saving money.
The national broadcaster has argued that it is debarred by rules in the Department of Finance from putting all staff into a defined benefit scheme.
The Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee John Cregan said he would be writing to the Department of Finance to clarify whether this was the case.
He will also be seeking clarification from RTÉ as to who is in the special pension scheme, and the criteria for admission to it.
