Senior doctors will be advised to reject a new contract unless significant changes are made, say negotiators representing the Irish Hospital Consultants Association.
The association will vote on the contract at a meeting of the its national council later this week.
There is still disagreement between health service management and medical organisations on key elements of a new contract for consultants including hours of work, pay and private practice rights.
The independent chairman of the talks process, senior counsel Mark Connaughton, is expected to meet with the various parties in the coming days.
Negotiators are trying to reach agreement on the contract by Friday, ahead of the organisation's annual conference at the weekend.
Informed sources said that the association's negotiators would recommend rejection unless significant changes were made to current proposals.
It is understood that at talks on Friday night some progress was made on the controversial issue of work hours with both management and medical bodies indicating that they were prepared to be flexible. Management has proposed that consultants be rostered from 7am to 10pm with salary scales up to €216,000.