The ESB group of unions says all power will be turned off at 8am on Monday December 16th if a solution is not found to the pension dispute.

Unions and management at the ESB are currently attending talks with the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) at a secret location.

The government says contingency plans are in place in the event that the strike goes ahead, but it has not said what they are.

And the unions say that due regard will be had to public health and safety.

The Minister for Energy and Communications Pat Rabbitte says there is not any threat to the pensions of any worker at ESB.

He says the company’s pension fund will be back in surplus by 2018 and any power cuts would be “out of proportion” and could “jeopardise the economy”.

All negotiations so far have failed to end the row.