The Indo leads this morning with a report by Eilish O'Regan that the HSE "is on course to spend more than €720m hiring agency workers this year while not filling more than 3,700 staff jobs for which it has funding." Fórsa and other health unions triggered the review of the WRC 'pay and numbers' agreement and are due to return to the WRC tomorrow afternoon.

The unions say the actual vacancy rate is being under reported, and that there are more than 6,500 vacancies across the HSE, excluding disabilities. The Indo article is also available here. 

The Peter McVerry Trust has written down the value of its €162 million property portfolio by €23 million "after uncovering major flaws in its financial accounts."

Also leading the news today are reports that the Government is considering longer wait times for citizenship for those with refugee status and tighter rules on family reunification for migrants.

Elsewhere, SIPTU action at Carroll's Cuisine is set to escalate, as trade union official Brendan Ogle lodges a High Court appeal of a recent Labour Court ruling, and Aer Lingus tells staff at its Manchester base that the airline may close the operation.

Finally,  the weather is set to take a turn in the coming days, as an “arctic air mass” is forecast to bring below freezing temperatures, frost, ice and snow. 

Your Zen this morning is he legendary Johnny Marr playing one of my favourite songs.

Have a lovely day.

NS