IALPA will later today tell the Oireachtas Committee on transport that significant financial aid for Irish airlines is the “only option” available to prevent industry collapse, and encourage members to “lobby” the Government for financial support for aviation.

The Oireachtas Health Committee will later today hear that healthcare workers are experiencing burn out and should be additionally compensated for their work in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some good news, the National Maternity Hospital has reported no new cases of Covid-19 among its staff after almost all of them were fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, The Times has this comprehensive explainer detailing how the vaccine rollout for over-70s will work.

In other Covid related news, Government is hopeful that the construction sector will be able to restart work from March 5th, in a partial easing of strict lockdown restrictions

RTÉ reports on the extensive waiting lists for driving tests, which currently stands at 25 weeks compared to six weeks this time last year.

The Minister for Social Protection has said she will be seeking an extension to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment until the summer.

Una Mullally is critical of the recent “bandwagoning” by some political parties on the issue of period poverty in this piece.

Irish officials will meet senior figures in the European Commission today to work out mechanisms to avoid a repeat of the Article 16 affair.

The Minister for Justice Helen McEntee will bring proposals to Cabinet today that will seek to allow the naming of child victims.The Government is aiming to resolve the issues that have arisen due to a court decision that banned the naming of children who have been victims of crime.

And finally, a new academic study has commended the role of the GAA and sports media in helping and reflecting the country’s response to the initial Covid-19 lockdown last year.

Our zen this morning is this rather wholesome good news story from last weekend, which saw a dog who had been lost in the Dublin Mountains for two weeks reunited with it's owners. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. 

Have a good day folks. 

Building Momentum: Use Your Vote!