• Overwhelming support among members after ballot 
• Action set to commence on Wednesday, October 14

Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) members have voted in favour of industrial action, up to and including strike.

94% of doctors who were balloted supported industrial action. These included consultants, non-consultant hospital doctors, and public and community health doctors.

General Practitioners were not balloted as they are independent contractors and not directly employed by the HSE.

The ballot was held in line with other public service unions and is a response to Government inaction on a new public sector pay deal and failure to conclude local bargaining arrangements due under the last agreement.

The current public service agreement expired in July 2026 and, to date, the Government has not engaged on a successor agreement.

The IMO said that it was deeply regrettable this step had been taken but it was inevitable given the Government’s failure to engage constructively.

IMO national committees will meet today (Tuesday) to consider the nature of the industrial action. It will then serve three weeks’ notice to the HSE and voluntary hospitals, with action set to commence on Wednesday, October 14.