In its latest report, the Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government reported that 10,397 people were in emergency accommodation in Ireland in September. This included 6,524 adults and 3,873 children. However, charities in this sector say these figures only scratch the surface and warned that the reality is far worse.

Meanwhile, there were 11,452 patients on trolleys in Irish hospitals in October, according to new figures from the INMO. The union says this is the worst-ever October for overcrowding and the second-worst month since records began.

Members of Siptu have voted against a Pfizer proposal to phase out their direct benefit pension scheme with 73% rejecting the deal. Pfizer's current pension plans are non-contributory, meaning that employees make no contributions towards their benefits. Meanwhile, GoSafe workers are to hold a one day protest at Leinster House next week, due to the company's refusal to accept a Labour Court recommendation that it engages with the union on their behalf.

Siptu members elsewhere in home help services in parts of Dublin and Wicklow are facing potential strike action in the run up to Christmas over the restoration of payments which had been cut following the economic crash. 

Aer Lingus owner International Airlines Group could slow short-haul growth next year on signs of economic weakness in Europe, according to chief executive Willie Walsh. This is due to British Airways (also owned by IAG) seeing earnings fall by a 155 million euro after a hit from a summer of strike action as the UK carrier faced the first industrial action by pilots in its history.

And finally, today marks 50 years since the Beatles' album Abbey Road went to number 1 in the US and stayed there for 11 weeks so to mark the occasion, today's Zen is the 2019 mix of Come Together.