The ICTU Public Services Committee meets this morning amid anger that non-ICTU unions have been given early drafts of DPER proposals, which one or more of them shared with the press. The Irish Times correctly quotes union sources saying there’ll be no deal that includes outsourcing, five-over-seven day working patterns or certain other ‘modernisation’ proposals. RTÉ’s Ingrid Miley gives a clear account of what went on, and rightly quotes union sources saying there’s “a lot of unhappiness.”

There were protests outside the constituency offices of the Taoiseach and two other Cork-based senior Government ministers yesterday morning in support of a nationwide campaign of industrial action due to take place later this month by thousands of workers in State funded Section 39 organisations over pay restoration and pensions. Reports on Twitter say that Anne Rabbit TD told her party colleagues last night that funding is set aside for voluntary body pay parity.

Businesses cannot fully prepare for Brexit until they know what rules will apply on trading with Britain after it takes effect on January 1st, the Oireachtas enterprise committee heard. The committee also heard calls for a specialised "short-time work scheme" to support companies temporarily impacted by Brexit, as the Taoiseach has said there could well be a deal concluded by this weekend. 

Meanwhile, Teagasc experts warn that without a Brexit trade deal, the average income on Irish beef farms could drop by 40% in 2021.

And finally, today's Zen this is Christmas classic which was released 36 years ago today.