Prison officers have voted to take industrial action over plans to introduce new screening procedures.
Director General of the Irish Prison Service, Brian Purcell said the one-hour stoppage set for Friday week contravened social partnership.
He said Towards 2016 provides for changes to work practices to ensure public services are provided "in the most efficient and effective way".
"This sanction for industrial action is a clear breach of the agreement, which provides for independent third party arbitration to deal with disputes that may arise, but in the mean time staff are to co-operate with the changes while the issue is being dealt with," Mr Purcell said.
The Prison Officers' Association (POA) voted for the action over plans to screen officers as well as visitors as part of new measures to prevent contraband entering prisons.
The say they will be required to undergo random checks during time additional to their normal working shift.
However Mr Purcell said officers already have a 10-minute grace period in relation to clocking on.
Lax prison security became a public issue earlier this year when prisoner, John Daly, phoned RTE's Liveline radio show from his cell.
Mobile phones are banned in prisons but some inmates have still succeeded in co-ordinating criminal activity on the telephone.
Following a public outcry over Mr Daly's call, a thorough search of the States prisons was ordered. It uncovered phones, televisions, drugs and, famously budgies.
Daly's was murdered last month, two months after his release and detectives regard his call to RTE as a possible motive.
The Government responded to the outcry over prison security by calling for enhanced measures to prevent contraband smuggled into prisons.
Talks have taken place between the POA and prison service and Mr Purcell said the service remains available for discussions.