It's reported today that surging business tax receipts have triggered a "bitter" Government dispute over money as Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe has refused Cabinet demands to boost the National Development Plan by more than €17 billion. 

One of the bigger talking points at yesterday's IRN conference was the publication of the WRC's long awaited code of practice on the right to request flexible or remote working. Congress has welcomed the new measures and Emmet Malone provides a Q&A about the new code in the Irish Times.

The code makes a provision for up to 20 weeks’ pay for workers whose requests for flexible or remote working are not reasonably considered by their employers. Pay trends were another talking point at yesterday's conference and employers in the private sector anticipate increasing staff pay by an average of more than 4% in 2024.

Elsewhere, Irish military aircraft are to be dispatched to the Middle East to help get vital humanitarian aid into Gaza, under plans being considered by the Government. 

Elsewhere, the Indo has this profile of Fórsa SNA activist Jesslyn Henry, who is running in the local elections in North Dublin.

Zen

Your Zen this morning is provided by Leitrim resident Mohammad Syfkhan. His album I Am Kurdish was released a couple of weeks ago on Irish indie label Nyahh.

Syfkhan trained as a surgical nurse but fled Syria after Islamic State killed one of his sons. He moved to Ireland in 2017, and was housed at the Mosney Direct Provision Centre before moving to Carrick-on-Shannon. 

His album is winning plaudits, winning over audiences and is described as having "become part of a thriving, collaborative music scene in one of Ireland’s smallest counties," and this clip from RTÉ Lyric FM's Culture File describes the album as "a message from the rich underground music scene in Leitrim." 

Have a splendid weekend.

Niall