The Sunday Business Post led yesterday with news that a "systematic cull of HSE managers and administrators will begin in the first half of 2020" (behind a paywall but copy available from the Communications Unit upon request).

HSE chief Paul Reid told the paper's health correspondent that he believes the HSE has too many managers at central level, and that he would initiate a “targeted and strategic” redundancy scheme. He also said there was a case to be made to pay some senior managers more money so that the health service could attract and retain talented managers into the future. Okay then...

The front page splash marks the return of the HSE as news editors' favourite bogeyman, with Reid obviously keen to curry favour for his plans, and the Post keen to big up the drama of planned changes to HSE structures. But let's remind ourselves, the Post made a choice to tell the story the way they did yesterday.

For example, it is interesting to note the very same news story, reported in the Irish Times a couple of weeks ago (28th October). Absent is the melodrama and words like 'cull' and 'axe' nor any attempt to convey some sort of massacre about to take place down at HSE HQ.

Let's take note and move on.

In other news, unions are set to meet RTE management on cost cutting plans, while the fastest-growing parts of country have proportionally fewest gardaí.

Your Zen this morning came to my attention thanks to our old friend Shay Cody following my plug for Lankum last week. Turns out Shay's a fan and attended Lankum's October sell-out show in Vicar Street. He suggested this great tune as a follow up, Lisa O'Neill and Lankum's Radie Peat in plaintive harmony singing Factory Girl. Many thanks Shay.