Dublin ambulance controllers have threatened a strike from Monday, which would cause severe disruption, though emergency cover would be provided.
The strike will start if the Eastern Health Board carries out its threat to suspend five of the 14 controllers who are on a work-to-rule in a dispute over redeployment, according to the IMPACT union.
An EHB spokesman said the issue was referred to the Labour Relations Commission, which refused to consider the matter until the work-to-rule was called off. He said the outcome of discussions with the union would not be known until Monday.