Both RTÉ and the Irish Times picked up on our Services and Enterprises bulletin story last Friday about the IR agreement secured with the incoming operator of the Irish Coastguard Search and Rescue service, Bristow. The story is widely reported in regional media following a statement by the new operator yesterday.

That news is mentioned in the Irish Times Business roundup, which includes news that, as the 54th annual WEF gathering takes place at Davos, almost half of business leaders believe their enterprises will not be viable in 10 years as a result of AI-led technological disruption and as climate pressures accelerate.

There's no news on developments with public service pay talks, other than ISME's statement yesterday which garnered very little traction, while in the North everyone is bracing themselves for widespread public sector industrial action on Thursday.

Elsewhere there's news of the remuneration for the members of expert groups advising on the corporate governance and culture of RTÉ (not bad for a part-time gig), and today the Cabinet will consider revised terms of reference for a statutory tribunal of inquiry into allegations made by the Women of Honour group into the Defence Forces. Meanwhile, Trump wins at Iowa and the Coalition is worried about the fate of proposed referendums.

Zen

I got into a good-natured debate about plans to redevelop St Stephen's Green shopping centre last night with a few friends on WhatsApp, prompted by Una Mullaly's article in the Irish Times, in which she argues the building's 'iconic' status, and her claim that "We need a protest movement like the one that saved the Cobblestone."

I remain unconvinced, and still mourn the absence of Rice's pub and the Dandelion Market from the top of Grafton St. I'm not a fan of shopping centres generally, but Stephen's Green always looks to me like a '90s suburban conservatory.

My friends made a reasonable case to retain the current building as it is, arguing for its quirky mix of useful shops and diverse shoppers, and cautioning against that Irish tendency to pull buildings down too soon after we build them because they no longer look fashionable.

Fair points I thought, but what do you think? Go back to the cover page to take the survey.

Have a great day.

Niall