Andy Pike spoke on Newstalk Breakfast and Claire Byrne yesterday about the current schools situation, while Bernard Harbor appeared on the Virgin Media lunchtime news, as Fórsa made it clear to the Minister Foley that members did not have confidence in the approach set out by Government, proposing today as a reopening date for schools. A further update to schools-based members will be issued by the union later this morning.

Meanwhile, Minister for Special Education, Josepha Madigan has withdrawn remarks she made in the Dáil in relation to “normal children” and has also issued an apology as she came under fresh criticism for a comparison between schools and mother and baby homes. 

Elsewhere, staff in the Oireachtas are concerned at a “lack of compliance” with mask wearing in the workplace, as well as a “business as usual” attitude in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Fórsa's Derek Mullen. This news comes as it was found that almost half of employers inspected by the Health and Safety Authority after the first lockdown were in breach of Covid-19 rules.

New talks are to take place next week in a bid to resolve a threatened strike by public health specialists over pay and contracts. Meanwhile, a member of Government has questioned the legal and constitutional basis for an €81,000 pay rise for the incoming secretary general of the Department of Health.

And finally, today's Zen is a thread of pictures where animals were caught interrupting wildlife photographers... or vice versa!