The State's 28,000 nurses are expected to vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike action this afternoon when the result of their national ballot is announced by the Nursing Alliance in Dublin.
Members of the four nursing unions which make up the alliance have already voted by more than 90 per cent against a Labour Court recommendation which is supported by the Government.
As the dispute enters its final week before strike action is due to begin, there is no sign of any movement towards a compromise. The Nursing Alliance plans to meet the Health Service Employers Agency tomorrow, but the discussions are strictly about the issue of emergency cover.
The atmosphere between the Government and the nursing unions worsened over the weekend after anger was expressed by nurses about comments by the Minister for Finance, Mr McCree vy, that nurses were "claim-jumpers" threatening to under mine social partnership.
Mr Liam Doran, general secretary of the Irish Nursing Organisation (INO), said the comments had inflamed the current situation and had "strengthened the resolve of nurses".
On the ballot, he said he had no idea of the likely result. Nurses will be asked to give their unions a mandate for industrial action, up to and including withdrawal of labour.
The Nursing Alliance will hold a press conference in Dublin this afternoon when it is expected again to express its willingness to enter talks with the Government.
Reacting to Sunday newspaper reports suggesting that the absence of a strike fund may make it difficult for the INO to sustain a long strike, Mr Doran said the issue has not arisen. He described as "faintly ridiculous" suggestions that in order to earn a wage during the strike, nurses would travel to Britain to work in locum posts.