The Department of Energy and Natural Resources has said only a small number of staff in management positions would be moved from the ESB in the planned break-up of the company.
A spokesman for Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan said yesterday he would be bringing a memorandum to Cabinet on the proposals, but that this may not be until after Christmas. Unions at the ESB have voted in favour of industrial action, up to and including a full strike, if management moves to implement the Government's plans to split up the company.
Under proposals set out in a White Paper last spring, the transmission network that brings power from generating plants to the local distribution system is to be spun off from the ESB. At present, the transmission system is operated by EirGrid, a separate State company, but is actually owned by the ESB.
About 600 ESB staff work on the transmission system, which includes high-voltage pylons, at the direction of EirGrid.
The secretary of the ESB group of unions, Davy Naughton, said yesterday that on foot of the ballot result, if the company initiated action on the break-up plan, the unions would respond. However, he said that he would be surprised if there were developments prior to Christmas.
Mr Naughton said the unions did not believe that there was a case on competition or any other grounds for splitting up the ESB.
The ESB group of unions is set to meet next week to discuss the issue and is likely to seek a meeting with the company's management. The position for the unions in dealing with the planned break-up is complicated as the move is coming directly from a Government initiative rather than from the company.
Meanwhile, correspondence emerged yesterday revealing tension between unions at the ESB.
It emerged yesterday that last week Brendan Ogle, branch official of the ATGWU/Unite, strongly criticised the TEEU union over aspects of the recent dispute at Moneypoint power station which threatened electricity supplies for a time last month.
"It is not acceptable that you conceived of this dispute without recourse to the ESB Group of Unions of which your union is an affiliate," Mr Ogle wrote to TEEU chief Eamon Devoy.
Mr Devoy replied: "The assertions contained in your letter are inaccurate, inappropriate and without foundation."