The Communications Unit published a full set of divisional bulletins early this morning. You can access them here: 

• Civil Service
• Education
• Health & Welfare
• Local Authorities  / Muno
• Services & Enterprises

Fórsa has welcomed yesterday's announcement, by the Department of Education, to accredit the UCD National SNA Training Programme as a Level 6 Special Purpose Award. 

There's extensive coverage in today's papers about an Aer Lingus cabin crew manager who has lost a discrimination case which claimed female cabin crew were being “sexualised” by uniform rules requiring them to wear heels and nylons. Elizabeth Barry was represented at the WRC by the legal firm of KOD Lyons.

In the Irish Times today Mark Paul criticises the 'state-appointed monopoly' for the NCT. Anyone waiting on a test at the moment will probably understand how much it grinds his gears.

Elsewhere, the always interesting Andy Beckett sizes up the current political situation in the UK.

Zen

Inevitably, whenever we get the first falling of snow, I'm immediately reminded of James Joyce's beautiful closing paragraphs of his short story The Dead. John Huston's final film was his adaptation of that story to the screen, with Gabriel Conroy played with grace and melancholy by the legendary Donal McCann. Here's that closing scene. And if you like that, you'll probably love the Father Ted version too.