Good morning colleagues,

The Irish Times reports that the EU is preparing "a list of potential tariffs on US services, as well as export controls, as part of its possible retaliation if trade talks with Washington fail," which it says raises concern in Ireland given the number of US tech firms based here.

Meanwhile, terse exchanges in the Oireachtas this week, and bellicose threats against Ireland by US politicians over the Occupied Territories Bill, form a backdrop to what Pat Leahy calls "a growing awareness of potential economic consequences" of the Bill, with many voters now saying they want the "consequences to be examined fully before the Oireachtas passes the Bill into law," while public support for the Bill remains relatively strong.

In case you missed it, John McManus had an interesting piece in the Irish Times this week about the question of how many civil servants does it take to run a small country like the Republic? He cites Matt Kerlogue, the data scientist who compiles the Blavatnik Index of Public Administration, produced by the eponymous business school at Oxford University. Well worth a read and available here if you don't have access beyond the paywall.

The Indo looks at the Oireachtas TV committee room ­workers who will be forced to sign on the dole this summer, and the Government has announced that applications are open for the 2025 Ireland Against Racism Fund. The fund enables non-government and community organisations to "provide projects and local initiatives that combat racism and promote racial equality."

Galway City Council approved more borrowing on Monday for the planned move to the new Crown Square premises. In the Connacht Tribune, Dara Bradley writes that the council has 'some neck'.

Last weekend I was listening to a podcast interview with Shane O'Neill, former lead singer with Irish 80s legend Blue In Heaven. He was talking about his father, Seamus O'Neill, who founded the Mulligan Records label in the 1970s, and the people who hung around his house at the time. People like the Bothy Band, and he mentioned in particular their album After Hours, Live in Paris from 1978. I didn't know the album so I gave it a listen...what a Zen treat. 

Have a great weekend.

NS