The Tanaiste says the public will have no tolerance for electricity supply disruption after staff at the ESB voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action.

Eamon Gilmore has called on unions and management to resolve their dispute over pensions through negotiations.

Workers say there will be no disruption to customer supply over the Christmas period as a result of a vote in favour of industrial action.

Staff last night voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in a row over their company pension scheme.

The row centres on the company plan to pay a dividend to government following the payment of €78 million to the state earlier this year.

Unions argue that the payments are eating into the workers pension scheme. The ESB group of unions will meet next Friday to consider the result.

Speaking on his way into Government Buildings this morning the Tanaiste called for both sides to enter talks, while the Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin says an uninterrupted electricity supply is essential.