That massive HSE redundancy payout is still making news, and will probably continue to do so for a while. Emmet Malone has this explainer in the Irish Times. The piece leads with news that Opposition politicians have called for greater transparency around packages given to senior executives, following this week's revelations about the payment to Dean Sullivan.

The story is widely covered and The Journal has something similar on the frequency of "golden handshakes." Meanwhile, it's reported that staff at Irish branches of The Body Shop have been left without a month’s pay, as well as holiday and redundancy entitlements. 

The Irish Times, Indo and Examiner all report today that IAG's (the company that owns Aer Lingus) chief executive Luis Gallego has said the group will "stall" delivery of new aircraft to the Irish carrier until its pilots’ pay row is resolved. 

The Connacht Tribune reports that the HSE's West Regional Health Forum met for the first time in five months this week, "and it came back with a bang as management was accused of acting with contempt towards elected members." The forum was meeting for the first time since Fórsa's recent industrial action was suspended.

Elsewhere, Business Plus reports that RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst was challenged by newsroom staff this week on why he didn’t speak up when the former RTÉ board chair “misinformed” the Media Minister at a meeting which he also attended.

Meanwhile...the planet is still burning, and Ireland will need to cut greenhouse gas emissions by even more than targeted after a recount found emissions were higher than previously estimated. 

Ireland for all - Trade unions and other civil society organisations will form part of tomorrow's national solidarity march in Dublin. The demonstration is taking place to show support for diversity and equality and denounce racism, hate and war. #StandTogether.

Zen

Your Zen this morning is a podcast recommendation. Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland are the hosts of the excellent popular history podcast The Rest Is History. A Goalhanger production (Gary Lineker's media company, which also produces The Rest is Politics with Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart), the podcast is a good-humoured deep dive into an incredible array of historical episodes from Carthage to the Falklands. 

This week I've been listening to their four-part series on Britain in 1974, a period during which the trade unions played a not-insignificant role. This week marks the 50th anniversary of the February election around which these episodes hang.

Sandbrook and Holland conjure both the mood of the times, and the cast of political characters, to vivid life. There's almost 600 other episodes to choose from too. Highly recommended. 

Have a relaxing weekend.

Niall