The Ombudsman for Children has told the Taoiseach he is concerned that children seeking protection in Ireland from countries other than Ukraine are being “treated less favourably” on a basis that is “not reasonably justifiable” under the aims of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Read more on that here.

Social welfare is set to be linked to people's past earnings, under plans set to be brought to Cabinet today. Under the proposal, high earners who lose their jobs would be entitled to more than the normal social welfare rates.

Critically ill and “unstable” patients will no longer be brought by ambulance to the emergency department at Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan from next Monday. Minister Stephen Donnelly has written to the HSE board indicating the first phase of a transformation plan will start on December 12.

Resources need to be put into the promised reform of policing according to this opinion piece in The Times.

The Times reports that there will be little let-up in house prices for the foreseeable future, following a report from the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI).

Across the water the Rail National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has announced further strike action in the UK, to take place from Christmas Eve. And the body of unions representing healthcare workers in the UK have stepped up their preparation for strikes on 15 and 20 December. 

And finally, close to 3,300 people will become new Irish citizens this week in Killarney, with the UK once again the lead nationality.

Zen

Now that December is upon us the Christmas zen can officially commence. This video does the rounds every year and never fails to lift the spirits. I see some green tinsel glasses in my future...

Have a good day folks.