While the HSE announced that it had lifted all restrictions on the recruitment of nurses in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, there remains concerns about the cuts to primary care posts in the western region, reported on the front page of the latest edition of the Connacht Tribune, with comments from our own Pádraig Mulligan.
In County Louth, Fórsa members at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda are operating a non-cooperation instruction following the recent opening of a new ward for which the union says there is not sufficient staff. The matter had gone to the WRC last September, when the union highlighted a growing problem of staff deficits at the hospital. Management subsequently opened the 'Newgrange 3' ward without the matter being resolved, significantly stretching staff resources.
One of the bigger talking points over the weekend was the question of whether Ireland would follow the lead of a number of other European countries in limiting large public gatherings. As it stands the St Patrick's festival next week is set to go ahead, while the rugby game in Paris scheduled for Saturday looks once again in doubt and the Irish Times leads this morning with news that pressure is building to limit big gatherings.
Elsewhere, it's reported that workers will be entitled to illness benefit immediately if they are forced to self-isolate due to coronavirus, under measures to be considered by a Cabinet sub-committee, while the Indo reports that RTÉ has asked a number of its employees to work from home amid concerns about the virus.
Your moment of Zen this week is a hearty recommendation to get yourself down to the Abbey Theatre before The Fall of the Second Republic closes on Saturday. A play set in a parallel Ireland in 1973, detailing corruption, intrigue and dark (very dark!) political chicanery. I went to see it on Saturday and the packed house were on their feet by the end. A sharp script and a great cast of actors, it has much to say about the current state of many nations.
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