Hospital consultants meeting to discuss industrial action

Hospital consultants will meet today ahead of industrial action due to start on Monday.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association is against the first new consultant posts being advertised on a disputed contract.

Doctors have voted to withdraw from some local and national management and planning committees but not from clinical duties.

Spokesman Finbarr Fitzpatrick says consultants are doing everything to block the recruitment process until agreement is reached.

"There is a possibility that they may attempt to bring in consultants from outside the jurisdiction - but we've written to sister organisations in the UK and North America advising them of our position," he said.

"There fore we don't think it's likely that any interviews will be held over the coming weeks."