This year’s Christmas shopping season will be the last for zero-hour employment contracts, which became prevalent in the retail industry over the years. The legislation to enable the banning of the contracts, where workers have no set hours guaranteed, passed its final stage in the Dáil yesterday. It clears the way for a prohibition to be enacted sometime in early spring. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions lobbied hard for the new laws, under which employers will now have to give all staff a written contract within five days of starting work, outlining their main terms of work including their daily and weekly hours.

Thousands of passengers travelling to and from Gatwick are facing serious disruption due to drones flying nearby.  Flights in and out of the UK’s second busiest airport were suspended from 9pm last night after two of the devices were seen near the airfield.

The Irish Times reports that ambulance staff in the HSE are expected to press for increases in pay on foot of a new review to be carried out into their roles and responsibilities. In a statement yesterday, SIPTU said it had reached agreement with the HSE and the National Ambulance Service on the new process, which comes under the terms of the current public service agreement 

The Irish Times covers the impending industrial unrest amongst nurses again this morning, paying particular attention to the affect it could potentially have on the Pubic Service Stability Agreement.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has become embroiled in a misogyny row after being accused of mouthing "stupid woman" at Prime Minister Theresa May during Prime Minister's Questions. The Labour leader was shown saying something under his breath after Mrs May likened his attempt to force a confidence vote in her earlier this week to a Christmas pantomine.

In the spirit of Christmas we have a double zen for you this morning. Macaulay Culkin has returned as Kevin McAlister  in a ‘Home Alone’ style Google ad.

We also have this non-Christmassy earworm. On this day in 1986 The Bangles started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Walk Like An Egyptian'.