Fórsa has said that the HSE must immediately lift all barriers to recruitment for Health & Social Care Professionals (HSCPs) in order to ensure the country’s public health system is adequately prepared for the rapid progress of the Covid-19 virus. Our own Niall Shanahan spoke to Ocean FM on the matter.

Private sector workers affected by coronavirus are to receive a new higher level of sick pay of €305 per week from their first day of illness under a new €2.4 billion initiative announced by the Government. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said on Monday that existing conditions surrounding sick payments, such as having a specific number of PRSI contributions, would be waived. Payments will also be available to the self-employed. Earlier today Patricia King discussed the issue on Morning Ireland. Listen back to that here.

Meanwhile, Minister for Health Simon Harris has described the reaction of health service trade unions to the coronavirus as “amazing.” Reports that trade unions had told the HSE they will not accept a ban on industrial action or unilateral decisions to outsource services as proposed in a plan by health managers last Friday for dealing with the coronavirus outbreak, were unfair, he said. “The trade unions have been amazing. I’ve never seen such solidarity, all stepping up to the plate. They are right to ask questions (about plans).”

Aer Lingus regional operator Stobart Air has reported on the impact of the coronavirus and the collapse of Flybe, telling staff it needs to slash costs in order to survive. While the carrier has seen a fall in bookings, it also had two Embraer jets and two ATR turboprops leased to UK-based Flybe, meaning it has now lost hundreds of thousands of euro a month in revenue from the contract. Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic has admitted flying planes that are "almost empty" in order to keep take-off and landing slots despite demand plummeting due to the coronavirus. 

The number of men in senior roles at Bank of Ireland has been blamed for a gender pay gap of almost 25 per cent according to The Times. Bank of Ireland published a Gender Pay Gap Report on Monday which highlighted the percentage difference between what men and women are paid on average in the organisation, irrespective of roles or levels.

RTE reports that the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will meet in the morning to discuss policy issues. The discussion follows another meeting tonight between Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin, fuelling speculation that talks on government formation may not be too far off.

And finally for some zen. Here's a glorious snippet of  President Michael D. Higgins' dog demanding belly rubs at an official event.

Have a good day folks.