The company which operates the Luas system in Dublin says it is very disappointed that further strike action has been announced, including on St Patricks Day.

Staff have balloted in favour of action in pursuit of a pay claim.

Transdev, which operates the Luas, says the pay claim equates to an increase of almost 54%, is "unrealistic" and would cost in the region of €6m a year.

Transdev's Gerry Madden says he hopes further talks can take place to try and reach agreement and prevent further strikes, before he called the €30m pay claim "excessive".

Mr Madden said: "Getting into a room and having a meaningful conversation would sound like a good idea to me.

"I don't see this as an intervention that needs to be made by the Government, I sincerely don’t think that there is anything wrong with this contract, and it should not be down to the taxpayer to meet the demands of €30m.

"We have already got very favourable pay and conditions."

Siptu's Owen Reidy says workers need to know they can get pay increases over the next five years.

He said: "Not to raid the Exchequer, it's to try and move away from the situation where the people we represent, 99% of whom have voted for this action, are effectively consigned to a contract where they cannot bargain for pay, apart from the consumer price index over the next five years.

"That is unheard of in any essentially State service, albeit operated by the private sector. That's not sustainable."