Fórsa has raised serious concern that plans to pay workers a reduced salary for domestic violence leave under a new bill could inadvertently “alert abusers”. The bill proposes a sick leave rate for workers who need to take domestic violence related leave, which caps payment at 70% of salary, or €110 per day.

The Journal and Independent both picked up the union’s comments on this.

A fuel allowance lump sum, a bonus child benefit payment, and a further energy rebate are understood to be some of the main elements of the Government’s spring cost-of-living package. A further once-off welfare payment is also under strong consideration. More on that here.

The death toll from last week’s earthquake in Turkey and Syria has risen above 35,000 people, as rescue teams start to wind down the search for survivors and Ireland gives an added €8 million in aid.

Incredible CCTV footage has also shown nurses at the neonatal unit of a hospital in southern Turkey running to protect babies in their incubators in the moments the earthquake struck.

Bach here, an analysis of Health Service Executive data reveals almost 1,300 patients died over the winter as a result of delays in hospital admission from emergency departments. 

And Siptu has suspended upcoming 24-hour work stoppages by members employed by Go-Ahead Ireland after the company announced it will attend a Labour Court hearing in a dispute over pay. 

Finally, Rihanna's headline-making Super Bowl halftime performance delivered another iconic performance simultaneously by the show's American Sign Language interpreter. Justina Miles, a Philadelphia native, took the internet by storm on Sunday night as the 20-year-old deaf American Sign Language performer put on a show that rivaled even that of Rihanna’s, powerfully interpreting each of the 12 songs in the halftime show set.