Elsewhere, Department of Health chief Robert Watt is expected to tell a Dáil committee today that it's not sustainable in the long term to continue to increase the health budget in line with demand every year, on the same day we learn the cost of the HSE's heavy reliance on management consultants.

New figures show the HSE signed 120 major tenders with external companies over the past eight years at a total cost estimated at close to €500 million. 

Meanwhile, the Dáil returns amid speculation of a November election and a cost-of-living package worth about €1.5 billion is under consideration as part of Budget 2025 negotiations, as bilateral meetings between Ministers continue ahead of budget day on October 1st. 

An OECD report commissioned by the Department of Education to assess Ireland’s performance in addressing disadvantage in schools has been described as “vacuous” by a group of principals working at schools in some of Dublin’s most deprived areas.

Finally, with commercial property continuing to tank and stakeholders look for a State intervention, there's been a growing  pattern of a cajoled, or even coerced, return to the office for some workers. Employers who force staff to return to the office five days a week have been described as the “dinosaurs of our age”. 

Finally, It'll be a nice day once the fog lifts.

Zen

Last weekend I finally got to see the fully restored re-release of Carol Reed's 1949 classic The Third Man. Heartily recommended as a cinema experience.

Have a great day.

Niall