The Government has implemented a number of changes to enable more people to access affordable healthcare such as a 10-euro reduction in the monthly Drugs Payment Scheme threshold from 134 to 124 euro, a 10% increase across all GP visit card weekly income thresholds, and a reduction in prescription charges from two euro to 1.50 for all medical card holders over the age of 70.

The latest in the nurses' dispute sees strike committees called to Dublin to give their support or thumbs down to a new contract in return for pay increases. The contract, which was at the centre of more negotiations between employers and the INMO yesterday, is to be delivered by the Labour Court this week.

Women at investment banking company Goldman Sachs earn 51% less than their male colleagues according to new figures released as the deadline for reporting pay gap numbers approaches in the UK. This news comes as it was reported in yesterday's digest that just over a third of the workforce will be initially covered by Ireland's incoming gender pay gap reporting law. 

The National Transport Authority is expected to confirm later today that the Metrolink project will not continue south of the Charlemont Luas stop in Dublin after it was reported last month that the route, which had been due to run to Sandyford in the south of the county, would terminate at the south city stop due to planned disruption of the Luas Green Line lasting up to four years.

In other transport related news, Ireland’s first carbon-neutral bus journey took place in Cork yesterday as a bio-methane powered vehicle took passengers from the city centre to Ringaskiddy. Proponents of the biomethane buses say its fuel is renewable and results in lower carbon emissions and better air quality in cities.

And finally, today's Zen is a trailer for the fourth installment of a perfect trilogy. Pixar's Toy Story 4 will hit our screens this June.