All eyes are on the Convention Centre today as Paschal Donohoe and Michael McGrath are set to announce their first joint budget. The Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure will brief their Cabinet colleagues this morning before heading to Spencer Dock at 1pm. Cash supports for businesses forced to close during the pandemic, an extra €4 billion for the Department of Health, €500 million extra for social housing as well as funding to hire more doctors, gardaí, teachers and special needs assistants are set to be on the agenda today. 

Meanwhile, a group representing some of Ireland’s best known musicians has posted a video online calling for the Government to restore the pandemic unemployment payment within the music industry.

An agreement has been reached on a Christmas bonus for the majority of those receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Anyone who has received the payment for four months up to December will receive the bonus.

The Times reports that Government sources have indicated that tighter restrictions are expected in Border counties within days, with Dublin also coming under scrutiny following a resurgence of Covid infections over the past three days.

RTÉ reports that around 1800 medical scientists, whose work includes carrying out Covid-19 tests, have warned of possible industrial action in a long-running dispute over pay.

Members of Fórsa, INMO and SIPTU continue their consecutive daily lunchtime protests at the Sisters of Charity’s headquarters in Dublin’s Sandymount. Read more on that here.

Essential maintenance workers at Dublin Airport have accused their semi-State employer of “threatening behaviour” after it cut their wages to 60 per cent of their pre-pandemic level over the weekend. The workers say DAA  is “using Covid to ram through” work practice changes that will “fundamentally damage” their working lives and end secure jobs in their sector.

Elsewhere in aviation, the chief executive of Aer Lingus, Sean Doyle has left Aer Lingus and migrated to British Airways. 

And finally, a 1000lb brown bear brings us our zen this morning. In Alaska’s annual battle of furry heavyweights, a salmon-chomping bruin nicknamed 747 – like the jumbo jet - has emerged as the people’s choice as the most fabulously fat. Winner 747 was a worthy champion, according to a park ranger “This year he really packed on the pounds, looking like he was fat enough to hibernate in July and yet continuing to eat until his belly seemed to drag along the ground by late September.” 

Have a good day folks.