The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has called on its members to vote in favour of industrial action following a dispute over staffing within the health sector.
It is understood that the INMO have said that a series of 24 hour stoppages will take place if the vote passes next month.
The threat of strike comes as the organisation have become embrolled in a dispute with the Government over staffing, recruitment and pay.
Although the INMO say they do not want to undertake strike action, they claim that they have been left with no choice as the Government continues to ignore to address the crisis within the health sector.
It is believed that INMO members have become increasingly unhappy at the lack of funding being made available to recruit new members in order to tackle the current overcrowding crisis.
However the Government have reiterated their stance by saying a pay increase is not feasible at the present time, with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe, claiming the unsustainable pay increase would comprise public pay policy.
Mr Donohoe said the increase would comprise budgetary policy as the overall outlay would cost €300m. He also claimed that if the state were to meet the INMO’s demands it would lead to other public sector workers to call for similar increases.