Energy Minister says little to justify ESB strike

The energy Minister says its hard to see anything that would justify a pre-Christmas strike at the ESB.

Unions are threatening power outtages from December 16th in a row over a massive deficit in the company's pension scheme.

Pat Rabbitte insists there is 'no risk' to the pension scheme, which he says will be rebalanced by 2018 with adequate provision already in place for any ESB workers retiring between now and then.

Minister Rabbitte says he believes good sense will kick in and the lights will remain on;