Potential strike action looms at ESB

A union leader at ESB said that it is difficult to predict how householders and businesses would be affected by a potential strike at the electricity supplier.

It follows a ballot of 4,000 members over changes to the supplier's pension scheme - which is expected to produce a result by tomorrow afternoon.

Unions have said that the ESB has changed the pension scheme from a gauranteed defined benefit system to a defined contribution scheme.

General Secretary of the ESB Group of Unions, Brendan Ogle, says it is an unprecedented situation.