In other news, the music college BIMM has an ongoing dispute. Its lecturers are to commence strike action in protest at redundancies and in pursuit of better pay and job security. They're represented by the IFUT. BIMM is a private college but its application process is overseen by TUD.

Elsewhere, today's edition of An Irish Diary in the Irish Times marks the centenary of trade unionist Séamus Redmond.

It looks as though private tenants are about to get dumped on again, as the Taoiseach indicates the Government is actively considering the abolition of rent pressure zones (RPZs) at the end of 2025. In other bad news on housing, six social housing construction projects across Dublin city centre are facing lengthy delays, and in some cases are not expected to be built, following the end of contracts between Dublin City Council and the Peter McVerry Trust. 

Meanwhile, Harry McGee reports that, on foot of a PQ by Michael Fitzmaurice TD, that 538 employees of Government departments and their agencies are on career breaks "with more than 50 of them away from their work for periods of five years or more." The figures don't include teachers, or others working in the education sector, employees of the HSE, or those working for semi-State companies.

And while the Opposition might not like it, parents have voiced their support for the rollout of phone pouches in schools.

Zen 

Danish-Palestinian director Mahdi Fleifel's debut film To a Land Unknown, is released this week. Having come to the end of Mo's  second and final season last night on Netlfix, I'm repeating my recommendation. Across the season it is a funny, sharp and tender telling of the lived experience of exiled Palestinians, and a bold attempt to "recognise the stranger" (Isabella Hammad).

Have a great week.

Niall Shanahan