In today's news the front pages on both sides of the Irish Sea are largely focused on the roll out of vaccines, while the Sindo reports that the new chief of the Department of Health has expressed doubts about the HSE's ability to hire nearly 16,000 extra staff that have been promised this year, while the Irish Times leads this morning with news that almost 6,400 healthcare staff are off work due to coronavirus as hospitals face into their most difficult week on record.

Sticking with the vaccines, the master of the Coombe maternity hospital in Dublin has apologised after it emerged the hospital gave Covid-19 vaccines to 16 family members of staff, while Paul Cullen writes that Ireland’s Covid-19 vaccine roll-out is neither as bad, nor as good, as has been claimed over the past week, and is now "chugging along steadily after sluggish start."

In "the Brexit" news, Irish government officials have raised queries with the European Commission about post-Brexit “rules of origin” restrictions that are disrupting supply chains of foods and other products coming from mainland Europe to Ireland. 

Elsewhere, the finance minister assures that Keynesian spending is to continue.

Zen

I was listening to Miriam O'Callaghan interview Christy Moore on RTE radio yesterday morning and she played this clip from 1969. Young Christy singing about James Larkin. A voice clear and true.

Have a good week, stay safe. Find the laughter.