Tickets are now on sale for the National Menopause Summit Cork which will take place in the venue of Cork City Hall on Friday October 20th 2023. This full day masterclass in menopause will be held during the same week as World Menopause Day which is marked annually on October 18th. Our own Ashley Connolly is part of a panel there and will be speaking about Fórsa’s work in this area. More information here.

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan has said that reducing tax rates in the forthcoming budget would be both “inappropriate” and “irresponsible” at a time when there is such a pressing need to address issues like housing and public services. Speaking at the launch of a report by the independent think tank Tasc, Kevin said the rising cost of renting had hit the poorest particularly hard and noted that young people had been badly impacted too, something that was reflected in Fórsa’s recent survey too. 

Elsewhere, Water delivery workers in local authorities who are members of the Unite trade union are to take strike action on Friday, 30th June. The union said it is seeking a commitment that water staff transferring from local authorities to Uisce Éireann will retain their public service status.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is set to call for new regulations to protect workers from the impacts of artificial intelligence in the workplace.

The Government has announced its move to disregard historical convictions for the committing of sexual acts between consenting men. Plans to legislate to ban conversion therapy were also announced yesterday.

And in a latest update, search teams have detected underwater sounds while scanning the North Atlantic for a tourist submersible that disappeared with five people aboard during a deep-sea voyage to the wreck of the Titanic, the US Coast Guard said.

Finally, Dublin City Council had paid a beautiful tribute to the late Christy Dignam as thousands of mourners flooded the streets of Dublin on Saturday to say their final goodbyes to the Aslan frontman.