RTÉ reports that the average weekly earnings in the economy grew by 3.4% in the year to the end of September, according to the Central Statistics Office. Average earnings in the private sector grew by 3.9% while earnings in the public sector grew by 1.3%. Read more about that here.

The Times reports that a former German finance ministry official has conceded that Ireland was hit with unnecessarily harsh austerity measures a decade ago at Berlin’s behest. Prof Christian Kastrop, a former Schäuble aide, suggests Ireland was caught in the euro crisis crossfire between Germany and southern European bailout countries. 

Attempts by the meat factories to secure additional employment permits for non-EU workers have been blasted by the trade union SIPTU. MII cited a "critical" labour shortage in the sector however SIPTU has blamed the meat industry's difficulties in retaining workers on low pay and poor conditions. 

Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone and her department have been severly criticised for handing back almost €60m in State funding last year when 6,000 children were not allocated a social worker. The findings are contained in the latest progress report from the Dáil’s spending watchdog, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), due for publication today. 

Meanwhile, an international study commissioned by Vodafone estimates some 15% of the female workforce internationally has experienced domestic violence and abuse in the past 12 months, an estimated 23,000 working women here in Ireland.

University Hospital Limerick has broken a record for the highest number of patients without a bed, according to the INMO. 85 patients were without beds in University Hospital Limerick on Monday morning, the highest figure ever recorded in an Irish hospital in a single day. The union has called for emergency funding to tackle the issue.

Elsewhere, an investigation has been launched into how colleagues in the Dáil spent over €1m on a printer that could not fit into the building and had to be placed in costly storage. A fast-track inquiry is underway with an update the Dáil's Public Accounts Committee due by the end of this week. 

Dublin Airport has taken a significant step to further ensure the comfort of the passengers who pass through it by opening a sensory room for people with autism, dementia, cognitive impairment or other special needs.

And finally, FemFest is taking place this Saurday in Radisson Blu Hotel, Golden Lane. The conference is the National Women's Council of Ireland's flagship event for young women aged 16-25. It’s a free event and tickets can be obtained here.

We have some easy listening four zen today. The Eagles album 'Hell Freezes Over' is 25 years old.  

Have a good day folks.