Fórsa are quoted in the following article by the Irish Independent claiming that driving examiners are being 'put at risk' after a ruling that allows cares without an NCT to be used for tests.

Both An Post and Diageo are set to increase their prices from the start of next month, adding to the escalating cost of living in Ireland. An Post has announced that it plans to increase the price of a standard stamp by 10 cent to €1.35, while Diageo said it would add 12 cent on to the price of its beers from February 1st, a move which will raise the price of a pint of Guinness to more than €5.30. 

The UK government’s standoff with public sector workers has escalated with plans for a coordinated “day of action” by unions, who have reacted furiously to proposed legislation that can in effect ban strikes in some areas. The day of action – discussed by unions representing staff in the NHS, railways, education and civil service at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) headquarters in London – could include some synchronised strike action, as well as rallies.

Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin has won three big awards at the 80th Golden Globes ceremony in Los Angeles. The film was selected as best comedy or musical film, Colin Farrell took best actor in a musical or comedy and Matin McDonagh won best screenplay.

There has been a stark drop in support leaving the European Union according to a European Social Survey. Support for leaving the EU fell in every member State since the Brexit vote in the UK.

Walk-in flu vaccination clinics are being offered to children from this week, as the HSE said nearly 700 under 14s have been hospitalised with the illness this winter.

Tax breaks for developers will be considered as part of plans to activate 70,000 idle planning permissions for homes. Leo Varadkar was speaking after a special housing summit in the Department of the Taoiseach with construction industry and voluntary housing bodies saying that he wanted to find ways of de-risking the 70,000 unactivated planning permissions for homes, mainly apartments, so that they could be constructed “if not this year, certainly next year.”  

ZEN

Here's a round-up of some of the main talking points at yesterday's Golden Globes ceremony: