The Minister for Public Expenditure has responded to a PQ on the on the civil service mobility scheme, about when the scheme will be opened to the professional/technical grades, indicating that discussions about this with Fórsa are due to get underway soon.

The European Commission is understood to be preparing a range of possible responses to the  tariffs, including measures that target US tech firms and banks. The Irish Government remains concerned about possible EU retaliation against US tech companies based in Ireland. Meanwhile, Aer Lingus has written to Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien proposing a legislative approach to addressing the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. 

Elsewhere, the Cabinet has been told that the health service will have to make savings of €633 million this year if it is to stay within its authorised annual budget. The Irish Times reported yesterday that a new plan proposes to reduce prices paid by the HSE for goods and services, as well as changes to staff work practices “with an increase in evening and weekend activity to deliver more health services over seven days.”

A Department of Children briefing document, published on Monday, says needs assessment waiting lists are growing substantially due to a doubling of referrals and the HSE’s inability to provide enough services. The number of assessment referrals rose to 10,000 last year, which is more than double the 2020 figure of 4,700. 

Finally, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions will host a May Day event as part of Trade Union Week on 2nd May with an event marking 25 years since the establishment of the National Minimum Wage. 

Zen 

In his roundup of the best new shows coming to our screens in April (welcome back Black Mirror, you dark fiend) Kevin Courtney includes Andor, the Star Wars spinoff that actually works. Featuring the wonderful Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, it's a story of rebellion, defiance and cunning in the face of a aggressive and malignant empire, so very much a story for our times.

Have a lovely day. 

Niall Shanahan