As we headed into the weekend the Irish Independent reported the DPER minister has directed his officials to arrange to enter into exploratory discussions with unions, following Cabinet discussions last week, in relation to 'an agreed way forward on public service pay issues.' The minister commented: “These will be difficult discussions against a very challenging backdrop.” The Journal and RTE carried the news too, in addition to news on pay motions tabled from Friday's AHCPS conference.

Elsewhere, the Sindo reported yesterday that unions at Aer Lingus have warned the airline that it can no longer justify a pay freeze for staff 'given the huge jump in inflation since it was agreed during the pandemic.' Commenting more broadly on mounting pay demands and industrial unrest in Saturday's Indo, Richard Curran says: "This time fears of big pay demands are driven by the uncertainty of what may lie ahead as much as increases in the cost of living so far."

Otherwise, the Sundays were kept busy with those seismic election results in Northern Ireland, as everyone asks 'what happens next?'. Alongside that there was a fair bit of commentary on the medium and long-term economic prospects, with mounting inflation, the beginnings of moves to raise interest rates in the US, UK and (soon) the ECB, and the end of the era of 'free money'. The dismal science is likely to hog the limelight again for quite a while.

The Irish Times reports that key not-for-profit social housing providers have said they will not be able to proceed with some projects following a surprise hike in lending rates by the State’s Housing Finance Agency, and the number of patients with Covid-19 in hospital and in intensive care has dropped to their lowest levels in over eight months. 

Fórsa Bulletins

The latest editions of the Fórsa news bulletins were published on Friday (6th May), you can find them here:

• Civil Service
• Education
• Health and Welfare
• Local Authorities
• Services and Enterprises

Zen

Audiences in Galway, Cork, Belfast and Dublin were treated to a visit by Kae Tempest last week. Wednesday night in Vicar Street (pictured) was an experience almost beyond words, so I'll keep it brief. Two of the best from the set available above and below. Have a great week.

Niall