The government yesterday announced new childcare provisions for children of healthcare workers whereby their partners will be given paid leave. This was in response to criticism from Fórsa and other unions who said "there was growing evidence that the failure to act was forcing essential healthcare staff to stay at home to look after their children."

However, the union said that these new measures "fall short" of what's really needed and don't support those who require the most help. 

Meanwhile, some voluntary grant-aided organisations in the health and social care areas are being threatened with funding cuts unless their staff redeploy elsewhere across the health system, according to Siptu.

The Taoiseach has said there's a possibility the emergency ban on all rent increases and evictions will be extended beyond the end of June.

Whereas Minister Paschal Donohoe has said that at the end of the 12-week introduction period he will be "tapering and changing" the Covid-19 pandemic welfare subsidies. While only yesterday, RTÉ announced it's availing of the Covid-19 temporary wage subsidy scheme, and will top up payments to staff, informing them that they won’t be out of pocket as a result of the scheme.

Also in that article about the Minister for Finance's plans is a report from the ESRI, warning that yesterday's Government economic forecast is "bleak" and an economic bounce back is not likely.

In aviation, passengers’ anger at airlines pressing them to accept vouchers instead of refunds for cancelled flights has mounted, as the Minister for Transport considers rule changes that would allow cash to be replaced by credit notes.

And in some non-Covid realted news, a leading UN official has challenged the Tánaiste to outline factual errors he says are in a report on the Public Services Card.

Last but not least, today's quick Zen just serves to hopefully give you a smile.