The Labour Court recommended on 19 July 2004 that an independent facilitator work with ESB and the ESB Group Of Unions to identify positions and possible solutions to a dispute involving pay, the pension fund deficit, organisational and industry change, and employee shareholding.
The dispute followed a threat of industrial action, which was withdrawn after the parties accepted a proposal from the National Implementation Body. The Court said the issues were interlinked and some involved government policy. It asked the facilitator to report back at the end of September 2004.