The CEO of the company which runs the Luas tram service in Dublin has written to all staff, asking them to engage constructively with management and conclude an agreement that is within the limits of current available resources.

In a statement issued ahead of another 48 hour strike this weekend, Nigel Stevens also says the current demands of staff go way beyond current norms in the Private and Public sectors with essential cost offsetting measures - and are totally unaffordable.

Mr Stevens, the Chief Executive of Transdev UK and Ireland says he's deeply disappointed at the situation that they are currently facing - and in particular they're acutely concerned for all their customers who have been impacted by this dispute.