Good morning colleagues,

On Friday evening the Irish Examiner reported that any breakthrough between unions and government representatives on a new public service pay deal remained "elusive." Talks are due to continue this week.

Meanwhile, talks on a possible Brexit agreement continue, but after four years of this the players have run out of adjectives, dice rolling and knife edges having been used up last week. So they are now merely described as "very difficult." On his way to Brussels last night Simon Coveney said a deal was possible but added "I won’t be shocked if it falls apart."