There's more disturbing news emerging from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) as staff face the possibility of a 40% pay cut by way of the imposition of a three day week, and with up to 900 jobs at risk. The Echo reports that Cork Airport is to host a ‘crisis’ briefing for local TDs and Senators on Monday.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has cautioned that commuting longer distances to access cheaper rents can harm wellbeing and mental health. In a study examining rental prices and commuting behaviour, the ESRI noted that increased journey times for commuters could also have negative monetary, health and environmental consequences.

Midlands Radio report that a government office in Tullamore has closed until further notice following two confirmed cases of Covid-19 among the staff there. The office is the National Shared Services Office, and the staff are represented by Fórsa.

Our official Una Faulkner spoke to me about developments yesterday. Una said local management responded quickly to developments and kept staff informed throughout via text messages, which appears to have been very effective. A timely reminder of the necessity for strict adherence to the back-to-work protocols and public health advice.

The same station reports today that Siptu and Meat Industry Ireland are to meet today to discuss pay, while the union has called for the immediate recommencement of Covid-19 testing for workers amid fears of growing numbers contracting the disease.

Meanwhile, the employer body IBEC has said the Government has pumped too much cash to households during the Covid-19 crisis and should find a way to "extract" money that has ended up in savings accounts. In the Irish Times, John Fitzgerald remains upbeat about the resilience of the Irish economy.

Elsewhere, San Francisco is on fire and it doesn't look real, while on the Greek island of Lesbos there's serious public health fears following the displacement of huge numbers of refugees following the devastating fire at the Moria refugee camp.

Your Zen moment this morning is a brief clip of Bernadette Devlin in conversation with conservative author and commentator William Buckley in 1972. Her comments seem prescient following events this week in the House of Commons (events that are likely to accelerate preparations here for a no-deal Brexit). The full interview (which I've been saving for the weekend) is available here and in the panel below.

Have a safe and happy weekend.

Niall