Representatives of Fórsa’s Local Government and Municipal Employees divisions met yesterday to consider an invitation to talks on Government proposals to change the relationship between Irish Water and local authorities. RTÉ spoke to head of division, Peter Nolan who said whatever framework emerges from any engagement would have to deliver security for local authority personnel, constitutional guarantees that Irish Water would stay in public ownership, and a sustainable future role for local government.
Fórsa has demanded an urgent meeting with Aer Lingus after its management told a national newspaper that staff were stealing ‘many millions’ worth of company stock. While in other airline news, the Irish Times reports that Ryanair is challenging an Irish tax law that is forcing it to levy income tax on employees who don’t live here. The budget airline also said today it had reached a framework agreement with German pilot union VC on wages and benefits.
From the skies to the roads, the national Bus and Rail Union has criticised Ireland’s transport authority for plans to put a number of Bus Éireann routes out to tender.
The collapse of civilisation and the natural world is on the horizon, Sir David Attenborough has told the UN climate change summit in Poland. Meanwhile French government sources have said Prime Minister Edouard Philippe is to announce a suspension of fuel tax hikes planned for January 1 in a move to end violent "yellow vest" protests against the measure.
Nurses and doctors at Irish hospitals should no longer call patients by pet names such as love, dear, girls, lads or boys, under new recommendations. Staff should instead refer to patients by their first name in an effort to make treatment more “person-centred”. This has been met with criticism from some people online, claiming its 'PC gone mad.' Meanwhile, 23-year old Ada Hegerberg made history by becoming the first ever female Ballon d'Or winner - but her special moment was somewhat overshadowed by host Martin Solveig asking her to twerk as she collected her award.
Finally, if you're not quite ready for Christmas music just yet, here are The Guardian's top 100 songs of 2018 as today's Zen - number 1 of which is Childish Gambino's This Is America.
