With the debate on capping passengers or expanding Dublin airport heating up, this piece features opposing views by MEP Ciaran Cuffe and the DAA's head of sustainability Andrea Carroll.

As the news cycle was dominated the death of former Taoiseach John Bruton yesterday, this piece evaluates the long running perception that his decision to increase the VAT rate on shoes brought down the Government in 1982. 

Elsewhere, the Indo reports that Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) will not appeal a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruling that was severely critical of the organisation’s chief executive, while Isme continues to rail against recent improvements to the National Minimum Wage, and Connect prepares to ballot 600 members for industrial action in the health sector.

In economic news, tax revenues of almost €8bn were collected in January, up 5% on last year, with VAT, income tax and corporation tax receipts all ahead of the same month last year, although Eoin Burke Kennedy warns that we would be wrong to interpret VAT receipts as a sign of economic health because of the effect of inflation. 

Finally, a new report, due to be published today, says women continue to shoulder the bulk of caring responsibilities and pay for it both in terms of reduced employment opportunities and often substantially smaller pensions.

Zen

If you're looking for a TV series to get your teeth into, the new season of True Detective is a worthy prospect. It's very dark and mysterious and marks a welcome return to the screen by the inimitable Jodie Foster, alongside relative newcomer and professional boxer Kali Reis. As our nights brighten, the Night Country will, at the very least, make you feel glad that the winter is coming to an end.

Have a cracking day.

Niall