ICTU lead today with their analysis of chief executive pay, receiving broad coverage across most titles and radio stations. The latest report estimates it would take an ordinary worker 212 years to earn what the chief executive of building materials company CRH, Albert Manifold, took home in 2018.
Sunday's Daily Mail led with an attack on the Irish Water pay model (picked up here by extra.ie). We've been here before, where the performance-related pay system is characterised as a bonus system.
The Sunday Times reports the FAI is seeking state assistance with its finances. Officials are to meet the sports minister today amidst speculation that the state might step in as a guarantor for the FAI’s loans, though the ST says no official request has been made.
In the Business Post the chief of An Post took a swipe at what he called the 'collective incompetence' of the civil service as the cause of citizens not being able to access a full range of state services through the post office network. That story can be read here and continues here.
The competing agendas of DPER and An Post on this issue surfaced in the media a few months ago. DPER is focused on its digital strategy (for example Revenue), while An Post is looking to cater to the 'offline citizen'. Both parties have resorted to collectively slagging off civil servants in their exchanges. Not a good look fellas. In a longer interview in the paper, An Post chief David McRedmond says while things have improved at An Post, the company's not in 'a safe place'.
Elsewhere, redundancies and strike action loom at Virgin Media.
Perhaps unwisely, I spent a chunk of the weekend trawling through the internecine war of words among UK Labour supporters on Twitter, and as much post-election analysis as I could digest (even if some of it guaranteed indigestion). This analysis by Andrew Rawnsley contains, at least, a blend of pragmatism - and a caution against abject pessimism - that ought to be considered by anyone horrified by the result.
I was struck by the message sent out by Berlin’s rubbish collectors last week. They're suggesting that we try to give time, rather than stuff, this Christmas. Worth considering if it's an option.
As this is my last digest before the break I'd like to thank you all for reading and engaging with our daily dispatch. Thanks to everyone who's been kind enough to give feedback and suggest content throughout the year. Have a lovely Christmas.
VOTE FOR ZEN: ZMOTY 2019
Go back to the survey link on the front page to vote. Just a reminder of the nominees:
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