Update 6.46pm: The Government has expressed its willingness to talk to hospital doctors in an effort to avoid industrial action.

Earlier today, it was announced that doctors could strike over the restoration of €3,000 “living out allowance”.

“Both the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and his colleague the Minister for Health are committed to engagement with the IMO on matters of mutual concern,” said a Government spokesperson.

“The particular issue of the ‘Living Out Allowance’ which is under consideration by both parties (Management and IMO) involves potentially significant exchequer resources which have not been provided for in either the current or next year’s budgetary provision.”

“Accordingly, this issue would need to be considered in the context of wider Public Sector engagement.”

Earlier:

Doctors are to ballot for industrial action following the breakdown of talks between the IMO and the Government.

The dispute centres around the restoration of a €3,000 “living out allowance” that was abolished a number of years ago.

The IMO will now ballot its non-consultant hospital doctors on industrial action.

IMO president John Duddy said the breakdown of talks is an example of the lack of respect the Government has for doctors.

The group previously said that the absence of the allowance has “led directly to the inability of our health services to retain or recruit doctors”.