Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Last Friday, the ESB group of unions served notice of their intention to take industrial action starting on 16 December. However, the ESB executive director team and the unions continue to meet under the company's established procedures for dealing with industrial relations issues. At this point there is ongoing dialogue between the parties, and while that process continues I believe it would be inappropriate to make further comment. However, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources will remain in ongoing contact with the company on the situation, and the Government will be kept informed.

The Government is acutely aware of the seriousness of this situation. We hope that notwithstanding the service of notice on the company last Friday, ESB management and the unions will work together to resolve the various issues through direct discussions within the framework of well-established procedures. The ESB, in co-operation with EirGrid, has a robust contingency plan in place in the event of industrial action. There is ongoing proactive engagement between EirGrid, the ESB and the energy regulator to ensure that if there is industrial action, appropriate and co-ordinated mitigation measures are taken to safeguard security of supply. There is a joint obligation on the company and the unions to have in place agreed contingency plans and other arrangements to deal with any emergency that may arise during an industrial dispute, including the provision of emergency services required on humanitarian grounds and all matters concerning health, safety and security, including that of plant and equipment.

My understanding is that pension scheme measures adopted under an agreement between the ESB and its unions in 2010 have had a positive effect, with the scheme actuary reporting that the scheme is now in balance on an ongoing actuarial basis.

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