Poland's Solidarity trade union has expressed disappointment at the Irish Government's decision to block the ESB from making a bid for eight electricity companies in Poland.

Members of the trade union were in the Republic yesterday to meet officials from the ATGWU, the ESB's biggest union. The primary purpose of the meeting, arranged before the Government's decision, had been to exchange views and information on how Irish trade unions interfaced with the ESB in advance of any bid by it. "It was a difficult meeting from the point of view that they had expected the ESB would be allowed to bid in the first basis and they were certainly disappointed that the cabinet had taken the decision not to allow the ESB to progress with their bid," said Mr Denis Rohan of the ATGWU.