The Irish Congress of Trade Unions yesterday set out a detailed plan on the way forward for the country, amid the unprecedented economic global crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. ‘No Going Back’  A New Deal Towards a Safe and Secure Future for All sets out in detail how to revive the economy and ensure that workers are rewarded and protected as the country gradually emerges from the pandemic.

As the economy begins to slowly reopen, the Health and Safety Authority is busy having carried out approximately 700 inspections between Monday of last week and close of business yesterday. The HSA said the inspections were completed across a range of industry sectors, roughly half of which were in the construction sector. It found roughly three in four employers had a 'response plan' in place, as required by the protocol. 

The Cabinet is expected to make a decision tomorrow on whether to reimburse local authorities for the three months of lost commercial rates during the pandemic. Minister of State John Paul Phelan told the Dáil that the Government will also consider extending the waiver for businesses that have been severely impacted.

Meanwhile the Government has reportedly 'reneged' on its promise to stem the retention crisis in the Defence Forces and has allowed vacancies to increase by 350%, according to the the Representative Association for Commissioned Officers

The majority of Leaving Certificate students have now registered for the new calculated grades system. Some 48,000 students have signed up so far, and they have until 10pm on Thursday to apply. Elsewhere in education, trade unions representing staff at all levels of the system have called for the creation of a new Sectoral Forum to help address the crisis affecting the Third Level sector, in terms of funding shortfalls and the development of a longer-term plan to help place it on a more sustainable footing, for the future. 

In aviation, IALPA is pushing Dublin-based CityJet to retain its 57 pilots here as they face redundancy. The Indo reports that the union said it had proposed alternative approaches to CityJet, including a suggested 50% salary cut for pilots and a suspension of all labour agreements in order to facilitate cost reductions. It said it had also offered 'complete flexibility' until flights resumed.

Meanwhile, Aer Lingus has told its Shannon-based cabin crew that they are to be temporarily laid off, while those based in Dublin and Cork are to see rosters and pay reduced from 50% to 30% of normal. This news comes as Aer Lingus cancelled its contract with Cityjet which had been providing flights on Aer Lingus' behalf on a number of routes. The Irish Times reports that Irish-based Cityjet pilots now fear Scandinavian crew will replace them once travel bans are lifted.

And finally, our Zen this morning pays tribute to Maya Angelou as today marks six years since her death. Here the American poet, singer, memoirist, and civil rights activist performs one of her most famous poems, Still I Rise.