Industrial action by school secretaries is set to go ahead from Friday after talks aimed at averting the dispute over pay ended unsuccessfully on Wednesday. Read more about that here. This was widely covered this morning across nationwide media. See more here, here and here. The Journal interviewed Louisa Carthy who has been a school secretary in Galway for 16 years, who said not being paid during holidays is a big issue.

RTE reports that adults applying for their first passport will no longer be required to produce their Public Services Card at the Passport Office.The change was ordered by the Department of Foreign Affairs following concerns expressed by the Data Protection Commissioner into the operation of the PSC. Meanwhile The Irish Times has an interesting analysis piece on the Government's defiance of Data Protection Commissioner

ICTU has been appointed as one of 12 champion organisations who are leading by example in achieving 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Minister Richard Bruton made the announcement at the Ploughing Championships yesterday. The 12 champions will raise public awareness of the goals, and illustrate practical ways in which organisations and individuals can contribute to achieving the goals.

A woman who was offered reduced rent in return for sex with her landlord has spoken of her shock at receiving such a proposition. The issue was raised in the Dáil by Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger, who said the issue of sex being accepted as rent was becoming a reality in Ireland.

ICTU has approved in principle an application by the representative body for enlisted personnel in the Defence Forces to a link up with the trade union movement. The Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) had sought to become an associate member of ICTU, in a move strongly opposed by the leadership of the Defence Forces.

Protesters have ended the blockade of a meat plant in Co Waterford. It follows a similar decision by protesters at Dawn Meats in Slane, Co Meath yesterday. IFA President Joe Healy said meat factories should fully re-open immediately and urged farmers with animals to sell to contact their factories and drive the hardest possible deal on price. Mr Healy said the IFA will support any farmer who wants to sell their animals. 

And finally, Taisce has launched a campaign through its 'Green-Schools' initiative, to encourage schoolgirls in particular to cycle. The move comes following a report which indicated that fewer than one in 250 teenage girls in Ireland cycle to school each day, and the ones who do cycle say verbal harassment from boys and men is a top deterrent.

John Butler's Ocean brings us our Zen this morning. I have been listening to this piece of music on repeat for days. 

Have a good day folks.