The National Implementation Body has made a number of proposals and recommended the ESB dispute be referred to the Labour Court in a bid to avoid a threatened strike on Monday.
The unions, Government representatives and management of the power company met the NIB at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources today to look for a way to avoid the strike.
This afternoon, the NIB heard submissions from ESB management and the Department of Communications. This morning, representatives from the ESB Officer's Association (ESBOA) and other ESB unions made their cases.
The ESBOA, which represents around 2,300 of the ESB's 8,000 staff, are threatening to begin industrial action in their dispute. The ESB unions are demanding a 18.5 per cent pay rise and a 20 per cent stake at the company as part of a new partnership agreement.
The level of disruption to the power company's services depend on whether other unions at ESB would join the ESBOA.
The NIB said in a statement tonight is was "acutely conscious" of the implications for Ireland of power cuts resulting from an industrial dispute.
"Apart from the potential damage to economic and social activities, it would damage Ireland's reputation for industrial relations stability and put foreign direct investment at risk."
The NIB urged all parties to abide by the commitment to maintain industrial peace under the Sustaining Progress agreement and asked the ESBOA to "urgently reconsider" its proposed industrial action.
The NIB also noted a resolution of the substantive issues involved, namely pay, pensions, organisational change and shareholding, is not possible before Monday.
It has asked the Labour Court to become involved in mediation between ESB unions and management.
Another meeting of all sides in the dispute will be held tomorrow morning.
