The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte will brief the Cabinet this morning on the threat of strike action by ESB workers.
The ESB Group of Unions has threatened an all out strike after December 16th in a row over its pension fund.
Business groups have called for emergency legislation to prevent a black-out in the run up to Christmas.
Speaking on his way into Government Buildings this morning, the Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney urged both sides to enter talks to resolve the dispute - and he described the threat of strike as "unneccessary":
Earlier, the Transport Minister also branded the dispute as unnecessary.
Business and restaurant owners who have hit out at the move say they will withdraw en masse from ESB, if a strike goes ahead.
Unions and management have been invited to talks later this week.
Leo Varadkar told Newstalk's Breakfast staff should rethink the industrial action:
