The Irish Times leads with news that these will include a tax rebate scheme for hauliers, a double fuel allowance payment and a reduction in excise duty to cut fuel prices at the pumps.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has already advised that working from home, where possible, reduces fuel demand for commuting, alongside a range of other measures to soften fuel demand. Meanwhile, Fortune magazine speculates on the likelihood of a four-day week as a result of the current conflict.

Meanwhile, The Department of Foreign Affairs has provided consular assistance to 3,011 Irish citizens this year compared with 2,099 for all of last year as a result of the Middle East crisis. 

In other news, new figures published by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) show that 384 eviction notices were issued in Wicklow during 2025, prompting strong criticism from ICTU and Bray and District Council of Trade Unions, who called it “an appalling indictment of a housing system that continues to fail the workers and families who need it most.”

Finally, good news from France as Marine Le Pen’s far-right, anti-immigration National Rally (RN) failed to take key cities targeted in Sunday’s second round of local elections. A Socialist Party candidate, Emmanuel Grégoire, has been elected mayor of Paris. Grégoire took a victory bike ride with future councillors in Paris last night, after his victory over former rightwing minister Rachida Dati, "to show that the French capital would continue its pro-cycling and environmental policies."

Your Zen this morning is a recommendation to see the Abbey Theatre's latest production of Sean O'Casey's The Plough & The Stars. Saturday's matinee performance was packed to the rafters. Tom Creed's production is as visceral as it is lyrical, funny and tragic. Grab a ticket if you can.

Have a great week

NS