Rabbitte asks LRC to intervene in ESB strike

Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte has asked the Labour Relations Commission to intervene to try to avert the threatened nationwide power cuts that would result from strike action by ESB workers before Christmas.

Mr Rabbitte’s announcement that he had sought the intervention of the LRC came just hours after his party and cabinet colleague Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said the Government had no intention of intervening in the ESB dispute while talks over the €1.6bn deficit in the ESB defined benefit pension scheme continued between management and unions.

Mr Rabbitte said after several days of discussions, “no resolution of the dispute has yet emerged”.