In other housing and work-related news, how a doubling of the number of renters over the age of 65 since 2011 has left many people financially exposed against a backdrop of soaring rents.

In other news today, more teething problems for auto-enrolment as Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI) has raised data protection concerns relating to the new online employer registration portal for the incoming auto-enrolment pensions system. 

Elsewhere, a new report by the ESRI shows that the North’s economy has continued to lag behind the Republic’s in key areas like national and household income, but it is growing at a faster pace than the UK's. 

Coillte, the State-owned forestry company, provided share dividends of €4.4 million over the last two years. Overall, the exchequer has received almost €440 million in dividends from State companies during the period.

Meanwhile, Fórsa's new Barrister's branch features in Irish Legal News.

Your Zen this morning is a bit of Toy Show magic as CMAT arrives, triumphant from her 3arena show, adding a sprinkle of the Zeitgeist to the Christmas cheer.

Have a lovely day.

NS