Union leaders tonight served strike notice on ESB as a row over pay for Polish workers intensified.

More than 6,000 ESB workers could be set to mount strike action within a month due to the planned closure of power stations.

ESB workers are today expected to signal if they are going to force nationwide power blackouts ahead of the General Election over their ongoing dispute with the Government.

The ESB has claimed that it has done all it can to ensure equal pay for Serbs working on its €3bn networks programme.

The system for checking labour laws in Ireland needs to be changed, it emerged today.

A Polish-owned company involved in the refurbishment of the Moneypoint power plant in Co Clare has denied union claims that it is exploiting its workers.