Formal talks between the Irish Medical Organisation and the Government on new public only contracts are to begin in a few weeks.
It follows a meeting involving both sides which the IMO described as constructive.
Minister for Health Simon Harris said he would meet with the Irish Hospital Consultants Association next week.
The meeting was the first since Government proposals were published late last month and since the IMO's consultant and non-consultant hospital doctors voted for industrial action over pay parity for more recently appointed consultants and manpower shortages.
The Government proposals include a new public only contract, with a top salary of over €250,000 a year.
After the meeting, the IMO said it would defer strike action but hold the mandate pending negotiations.
Mr Harris has said that from the middle of this year, all future consultant appointments will be to a new Sláintecare public only contract.
Going into the meeting Dr Matt Sadlier, former IMO President, said he was cautiously optimistic.
But he said that unwinding private practice from public hospitals was a complex matter.
