The Four Day Week campaign features prominently this morning. Our own Joe O'Connor spoke Seán O'Rourke yesterday morning to talk about the benefits of a four day week. You can listen to the segment here. The Journal is also carrying the story and is polling its readership on the benefits. Labour’s employment spokesman, Ged Nash has weighed in saying the possibility of a shorter working week must be explored because workers are constantly expected to be on duty.

The Times reports that third level students and lecturers across college campuses are set to stage lunchtime protests today, to highlight what they say is a growing crisis in higher education funding.State funding for third level fell by almost 40 per cent as a result of austerity-era cost-cutting between 2008 and 2015 at a time of rising student numbers. 

The news is Brexit heavy this morning as EU leaders are expected to grant the UK a short extension to the Brexit negotiation period at their summit in Brussels, on the condition that Westminster ratifies the Withdrawal Agreement next week. President of the EU Council Donald Tusk spoke on the matter  yesterday saying “In the light of the consultations that I have conducted over the past days, I believe that a short extension will be possible, but it will be conditional on a positive vote on the Withdrawal Agreement in the House of Commons”. For updates throughout the day check out The Guardian's live blog.

Today is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. In light of this ENAR is launching Ireland's Anti Racisim Election Protocol this morning, which aims to ensure that elections have been conducted in such a way that they do not incite hatred or prejudice on the grounds of ‘race’, colour, nationality or ethnic or national origin, religious belief and membership of the Traveller Community.

It would appear that the FAI's troubles roll on. In a piece this morning by The Examiner, an invitation from the FAI to members of the Oireachtas Committee on Sport to attend a social occasion, days before the FAI was due to be grilled on its finances, has been described as as “wholly inappropriate”. 

RTE has an interesting opinion piece exploring the merits of trade unions and if they can play a new role in society. Meanwhile The Times reports that mandatory gender pay-gap reporting appears increasingly likely in Ireland and employers should start preparing for it.

In light of the tragic attacks that occurred last week in New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Adens has spoken out about how a global fight against racism and extremism is urgently needed. In an interview with the BBC, she highlighted that there is a responsibility to "weed it out where it exists and to make sure we never create an environment where it can flourish." Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced an immediate ban on the sale of assault rifles and semi-automatic weapons, rapidly making good on a pledge to tighten the country's gun law.

Speaking of environments, thousands of Irish students took to the streets last week in a school-strike to protest what is described as "Government inaction on climate change." On the day, the young people of Dublin gathered outside St Stephens Green and marched to Leinster House to hold a rally. The main Irish actions were organised by a loose coalition of second-level students from schools in the Cork and Dublin areas.

In other news, the London Fire Brigade has accused the children's TV show Peppa Pig of sexism after the show used the term "fireman" instead of "firefighter". The Brigade stated in a tweet that they've "not been firemen for 30 years, You have a huge influence on kids & using out of date stereotypical gender specific wording prevents young girls from becoming firefighters." Meanwhile in England, only 5.2% of firefighters are female.

ICTU's March briefing exploring affordable childcare is taking place tomorrow. Click here for more info. 

And last but not least, our moment of Zen today is to highlight the fact that it's (South Africa's) Human Rights Day! Throughout the day, try and take a moment to appreciate those around you who make you feel loved and accepted. Reflect on the fact that it is important to celebrate our differences! Here's a song for the occasion.