The first funerals of the victims of Friday's explosion in Co Donegal will take place later today. Our thoughts are with the families and the community of Cresslough at this time.

Hundreds of thousands of workers are set to benefit from the new auto enrolment pension scheme that has been finally agreed by Government. The much-delayed scheme is expected to be introduced in the year after next.

ISME, has said it is gravely concerned about proposals on collective bargaining put forward by a Government backed working group. Read more on that here. 

Eight different lump sum payments will be made to social welfare recipients from next Monday onwards under plans due to be agreed by Cabinet this morning.

The President of Focus Ireland Sr. Stan has said that rising homelessness is the result of the wrong political decisions, and that that the crisis will continue to deepen this winter without immediate Government action.

The Minister for Health will bring the Health Service Executive's Winter Plan to Cabinet today which aims to provide additional capacity in public hospitals, as well as availing of services in the private system. Read more on that here.

Bank of Ireland and AIB are to pay staff an additional financial support payment to help them to deal with the rising cost of living in the form of a €1,000 tax free voucher.

The Verve bring is some zen. Their ‘Urban Hymns’ album is 25 years old this week. Here's 'Bittersweet Symphony'. 

Have a good day folks.