Fórsa activist Gina Byrne talks to the Nenagh Guardian about the ballot of school secretaries and caretakers as the pay disparity is the subject of a parliamentary question in the Dáil.

The Irish Times has this story about the exploitation of workers in the Irish food industry. Of 77 successful prosecutions for employment breaches in 2024, about two thirds involved firms operating in the food services sector.

Elsewhere, The Echo reports that An Taoiseach Micheál Martin has defended Cork City Council’s €350,000 purchase of ‘robot trees’, which have been placed indefinitely in storage following their removal. 

Finally, Uisce Éireann has said there will be no capacity for any new homes in Dublin in fewer than three years if a key wastewater project is not delivered.

Zen

George Wendt, better known as Norm from Cheers, left us last week. Wendt was part of Chicago's Second City comedy improv. The company performed at the very first Cat Laughs comedy festival in Kilkenny this week 30 years ago. We were in the audience at the Watergate as they took the stage. Inevitably, Wendt walked out to a chorus of "Hey Norm" from the Kilkenny audience. Good times.

Have a lovely week, travel safe.

Niall Shanahan