The Government may have to reassess its capital spending priorities in the wake of the Covid-19 economic crisis, according to DPER secretary general Robert Watt. Speaking at a PwC webinar, he also said the State has "plenty of fiscal capacity" to keep borrowing to support the economy during the pandemic, and the country needs to plan for a stronger recovery than is currently anticipated.

However, Ibec has warned that the Government’s 'conservative' approach to lifting coronavirus restrictions will exacerbate the economic shock and prolong the downturn. They accused the Government of reopening the economy at a slower pace than in other countries, and said this would result in a bigger economic contraction, a higher rate of unemployment and a larger budget deficit by the end of the year.

With the pandemic unemployment payment extended beyond its expiry date next Tuesday, Minister Regina Doherty said the nature of the payment needs to be reviewed. One of these proposals supposedly includes plans to slash the payment for part-time works by 40%, bringing them in line with the jobseeker's allowance.

In aviation, Aer Lingus is to impose further temporary pay cuts on staff, who will only receive 30% of their normal pay and hours from the 21st of June. The airline had already reduced the pay and hours of staff to 50% of normal because of the collapse of aviation traffic and passenger numbers.

Meanwhile, Minister Shane Ross has committed that trade unions will be represented on the new task force for aviation recovery.

Elsewhere, a US court has allowed shareholders to sue Ryanair and chief executive Michael O’Leary for making “false and misleading statements” about its industrial relations woes in 2018.

With the Leaving Cert due to have begun today, a guidance counsellor has this advice for school-leavers and their future plans.

And finally, today's Zen is of two little girls being reunited with their mum after nine weeks apart while she worked on a Covid ward in the UK. Susie is an operating department practitioner at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kings Lynn and this video is a reminder of the sacrifice healthcare staff around the world are making. I hope the girls' reaction lifts your heart like it did mine.