Hospital consultants will be balloted for industrial action in September - unless talks take place to address the "crisis" in consultant recruitment.
More than 500 consultant posts are unfilled nationwide, with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) claiming the situation is increasing waiting lists at hospitals.
The organisation is accusing the Government of ignoring the crisis despite previous commitments to restore pay parity.
IMO representatives also say that services will become unsustainable and front line care could be impacted unless the recruitment issues are addressed.
Dr Matthew Sadlier is a consultant psychiatrist and one of the consultants hired on reduced salaries post-2012.
He says the failure to recruit new consultants is a source of great "frustration" within the sector.
Dr Sadlier argued: "This is causing a huge frustration among doctors, and a huge frustration to the service.
"If we can't employ permanent consultants it is very difficult to run a health service.
"If tomorrow or over the weekend the Dublin or Mayo team went on the pitch with three players missing out of 15... I don't know if they'd be able to perform to the same level."
He added: “The Government’s recklessly belligerent attitude is radicalising our members who are now considering the need to withdraw services until pay parity is restored."
