There's a hefty amount of coverage on the public service pay talks. I'd suggest if you only read one item on it this morning, check out Emmet Malone's analysis in The Irish Times (Public pay talks: Government must – and can afford to – do a little better to secure the deal it wants).

Also, have a look at Kevin Callinan's interview with David McCullagh  on yesterday's RTÉ's SixOne news (view here from 24:55), and listen to his interview with Bryan Dobson on the News at One bulletin.

Most of the coverage now includes the respective positions of the Government and unions on pay, with the Irish Times this morning reporting Unions to seek significant improvement on Government pay offer when talks resume next week.

Meanwhile, The Journal's Muiris Ó'Cearbhaill takes a deep dive into the history and process behind public pay agreements to illustrate the current context and Daniel Murray provides this analysis in the Business Post, more of which you can expect to see this weekend.

Zen

I was reminded this week of a wonderful moment in the film Good Vibrations when a group of lads from Derry hear John Peel play their band's debut single for the first time. Peel liked it so much he played it twice. The band were The Undertones and that scene gives me goosebumps. The reminder came from news that the man behind the Belfast bookshop/record label Good Vibrations is the subject of a new biography by Stuart Bailie. Terry Hooley, Belfast legend. His story is well worth checking out.

Have a renewing weekend.

Niall