Fórsa yesterday condemned reports of severe cuts to primary care services in the HSE’s Western region. Pádraig Mulligan's highlighted the ‘culling’ of 63 posts in primary care, cuts to occupational therapy in the region and reports that vacancies arising from absences due to retirements and maternity leave will not be filled. This was picked up by Shannonside, Galway BayFM, and the Connacht Tribune.

Meanwhile, the latest industrial-related Coronavirus news reveals that workers who have to stay away from work as a result of precautionary measures taken to deal with Covid-19 may have no legal rights to be paid by their employers unless it is set out in their contracts. Congress has urged the WRC to give strong consideration to the development of a statutory code of practice to govern pay for workers affected by the Coronavirus. It said such a code would “provide clarity for all concerned, and avoid different employer approaches to this serious matter,” as it's feared that low paid workers and those in the “gig” economy will be hit hardest.

PwC Ireland has published its gender pay gap of 5.7pc, compared with the national average of 13.9pc. The company became the first of the "Big Four" professional services firms to publish the differential between pay for men and women. This will soon become mandatory for all large firms once the gender pay gap reporting legislation is passed; a bill Fórsa worked on producing. 

A new report on the beef sector has recommended that there should be a ban on below-cost selling. The Irish Farmers Association's findings also lead to calls for the appointment of a retail regulator and warned that unsustainable discounting should not be allowed as it is not in the interests of farmers, processors or consumers.

Another studying has has found that 1 in 3 renters in the private sector who are in debt, are now overburdened by debt repayment and nearly 28% face utility arrears. The report from TASC also reveals that only 40% of renters are able to save income on a regular basis. 

Agus anois, mar tá sé coicís na Gaeilge, seo é píosa beag nuacht sa teanga. De réir suirbhé atá déanta ag eagraíocht múinteoirí Gaeilge, tá 97.4% de mhúinteoirí den tuairim gur cheart go mbeadh obair na ndaltaí sa teanga labhartha mar chéatadán den mharc deiridh i scrúdú Gaeilge na Sraithe Sóisearaí.

This Zen has been doing the rounds online and considering it's been stuck in my head for about a week now, I thought I'd share it with you. Today's contribution is Iceland's entry to this year's Eurovision song contest, and while being an absolute jam, my favourite part is without a doubt the bizarre music video that accompanies it. My winner for sure!