Our statement, criticising Aer Lingus for refusing to discuss Shannon redeployments and redundancies in the Labour Court, was picked up by local titles plus RTÉ, the Times and the Indo yesterday.

And, as a quarter of a million folk queue for some class of driving test, the Government has outlined new legislation that will require 20% of public service recruits to be gaeilgeoirs within the decade.

Elsewhere, An Taoiseach gives reassurance on the impact of AI on jobs in this report on the launch of the Government's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy. That PA piece is carried elsewhere too.

Meanwhile inflation's up, Britain's to be landed with a €47 billion Brexit bill, and Stephen Collins has this for those who can't wait for the result of the Dublin Bay South by-election. (There's plenty more of that sort of thing across all titles, though none of it sheds much light). 

From the global desk, I can report that Japanese public service plans to scrap faxes have been jettisoned, while a British student has discovered a beetle that can walk on the underside of the water surface. Definitely worth a look. 

Finally, do join me in sending birthday greetings to Jack White, who's 46 today. Very Zen-appropriate given the weekend that's in it.

Take the brolly this weekend.

Bernard