Talks between the Mandate trade union and Tesco Ireland have been adjourned this evening 'without reaching a conclusion'.

Discussions between the two sides began before lunchtime at a hotel in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.

Strike action is currently underway at 16 Tesco stores around the country, in a row over proposed contract changes for workers who were employed before 1996.

Unions claim the supermarket is trying to force long-serving staff to accept poorer contracts.

Tesco, meanwhile, has argued that the terms of the contracts mean they have too many people working during the earlier, quieter times of the week.

In a statement tonight, Tesco said: "We reiterated today our concerns in relation to how Mandate’s actions are impacting our colleagues and its refusal to accept the Labour Court Recommendation.

"We believe that Mandate should have endorsed the outcome of the State industrial relations processes, which both Tesco and Mandate jointly agreed to utilise to resolve the pre-1996 changes."

Mandate - which represents more than 10,000 Tesco workers in Ireland - said: "Out of respect for the talks process Mandate Trade Union will not be making any further comment on the matter at this moment in time."

Next week, workers in a further 23 Tesco stores will be balloted to join the dispute.

Tesco Ireland says all their stores will remain fully open throughout the weekend.