Fórsa's head of Health and Welfare Eamonn Donnelly and assistant general secretary Catherine Keogh addressed the Oireachtas Health Committee yesterday indicating that key reforms are needed to sustain Home Support services across the country. They also said there is an “urgent need” for appropriate clerical and admin support for a service of its scale, to meet the rising demand of services by an ageing population. You can read Fórsa's piece here.

Janice Cawley, who is a memeber working in social protestion, spoke to the Irish Independent yesterday on the return to the workplace. She expressed her need to continue working from home and her lack of desire to return to how things were before Covid.

An announcement is ecpected today on measures to be introduced to combat the soaring cost of living. The Cabinet committee will meet this evening to finalise a 450 million relief package for low-income families and those who are struggling to meet electricity and fuel costs. 

The Irish Examiner leads with a report on gambling problems in young people, and a possible change in legislation that would compel people who provide character references for sex offenders to go under oath.

ZEN

I found a new favourite sport this week as The Winter Olympics continued in Beijing. In the Final of the mens 1000m short track speed skating there was a VAR finish as two competitors shoved each other over the line in an attempt to win gold for their respective countries. If you have't seen speed skating before i recommend you check out some of the other, longer distances over the coming days.