Government is expected to approve the establishment of a high-level working group to review collective bargaining rights and the industrial relations landscape in Ireland. The proposal will be brought to Cabinet today by the Tánaiste.

The Government’s new plan for rural Ireland features heavily this morning with coverage in The Examiner, The Times and The Indo. Fórsa has backed the proposal and called for engagement on the development of agreed and comprehensive guidelines on the implementation and management of remote working in the public sector.

More than 2,800 people have signed a petition calling on the Department of Education to formally accredit the first national training programme for special needs, according to The Journal this morning.

Some good news on the vaccine front. Johnson & Johnson will start delivering its single-shot Covid-19 vaccine to Europe next month, giving the continent a boost as it struggles to speed up its vaccination drive. Meanwhile, Cabinet will today consider extending the 5km Covid-19 travel restriction to a county-wide limit from mid-April.

The Beacon Hospital has announced that an independent review is to be conducted into their vaccine controversy, as it emerges the CEO of VHI was also in receipt of an “out of step” vaccine from the hospital. 

And finally, the Just Transition Commissioner Commissioner Kieran Mulvey has said that he will help address escalating tensions in the peat industry. Read more on that here.

This memorising video of six year old girl performing as a one person band is our zen this morning. 

Have a good day folks.