The Journal reports this morning that Fórsa has threatened industrial action at Oberstown detention centre after a young female detainee was moved into a new mixed-gender unit. Fórsa was not consulted on the policy and is now conducting an indicative ballot of members at the Oberstown campus, with early results indicating very strongly that members are ready to take industrial action if a satisfactory agreement with management cannot be reached.

In Covid news (it's not good) the disease is "no longer under control" and Nphet is recommending measures focused on the whole population. Irish Examiner journalist Aoife Moore tweeted last night from the health briefing that it was the "grimmest" one she'd attended for a while.The front pages this morning focus largely on the possibility of elevated lockdown measures, except the Irish Examiner, which focuses on Ryanairs closure of its base in Cork.

Additional Garda checkpoints and patrols are being rolled out nationwide this weekend to help prevent the spread in the community.

Chair of the Oireachtas Budgetary Oversight Committee Neasa Hourigan TD has told the Dáil that no proper explanation has been given for almost €1 billion going to landlords for private rental accommodation.

Your Zen this morning comes from the Manchester legends A Certain Ratio. They have a new album out. It's really good. It's called ACRloco and you can listen to/view the track Berlin by clicking the image above.

And if you feel like dancing round the kitchen while you play it, that's entirely up to you (but it is encouraged).

Have a good weekend, stay safe, do something nice.

Niall