Fórsa has described the decision to exclude SNAs and other school staff from attending yesterday's session of the Oireachtas Special Committee on the Covid-19 Response as ‘elitist and insulting’. The committee met to discuss the re-opening of schools and included contributions from teachers unions and parents representative bodies. 

Meanwhile, teaching unions have said that a full September reopening of schools is unrealistic under the current Covid guidelines.

Ryanair pilots and cabin crew are considering a four-year pay agreement negotiated with Fórsa providing for pay cuts and work practice reforms in return for reducing the number of redundancies triggered by the Covid-19 emergency.

Public health officials have expressed concern about an increase in recent days in the level of transmission of Covid-19. The reproduction number, which measures how many other people a confirmed case goes on to infect, for the disease has increased to “close to 1” according to one estimate.

The Examiner reports that PDForra, which represents more than 6,000 enlisted personnel in the Defence Forces, has broken ranks with officers' association, RACO, and is not advocating the setting up of an independent pay review body for the country's military. RACO has called for such a body to be set up, similar to the British Armed Forces Pay Review Body (BAFPRB), and one used by the Australians.

There has been a partial recovery in the country's services sector in June, according to AIB in its latest purchasing managers index. The business activity index rose to 39.7 from 23.4 in May, a level consistent with ongoing weak activity in the sector

RTE reports that The Central Bank has said the economy could shrink this year by up to 14%, while it has also warned that unemployment could average as high as 17% this year. 

And finally, the next installment of Fórsa's summer series takes place at 1pm today and will look at collective bargaining. For more information click here.

Our zen this morning is this short documentary which explores the life of a young couple in Tehran during lockdown. 

Have a good weekend folks.