In a setback, Ireland's coronavirus reproductive rate has hit one or above as the number of cases has risen consistently over recent days.  

Meanwhile, the education department is working on a financial package to ease schools' re-opening, while two-thirds of crèches have applied for public funding, which their industry body wants doubled.

Fórsa is among those preparing submissions to a public consultation on remote working, which was announced by the Government yesterday. The union published its guidance to members some time ago.

And the Government is to appeal the recent High Court ruling that struck down wage floors in the construction and related sectors.

Looking Stateside, Trump's in trouble after the conservative-stacked Supreme Court ordered him to hand over tax records.

Elsewhere, a dispute between contractors and the board of the new children's hospital is blocking the resumption of its construction, there's some good news for seals, and RTÉ's Normal People is being credited with a bounce in Trinners applications.

Here's Tom Jones as (I'm prepared to bet) you've never seen him before. You decide if it's Zen. 

That's it for this week. Take care.

Bernard