The Labour Court is to examine the nurses strike this morning, in an effort to avert widespread disruption to the health service next week.
Three strike days are due to take place, with over 80,000 patients potentially having their medical appointments cancelled.
Some 43,000 members of the INMO and PNA want a 12% pay increase.
****
British Prime Minister Theresa May will visit Dublin this evening to meet the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Mr Varadkar is also traveling to Northern Ireland to meet political parties there before talking to Mrs May.
Yesterday, President of the European Council Donald Tusk said there was still "no breakthrough in sight" after meeting Mrs May in Brussels.
****
A number of weather warnings are in place this morning as Storm Erik bears down on the country.
Gale force winds are expected, with the west and north-west likely to be the worst affected.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA), is asking road users to exercise caution and be aware of the conditions before setting out.
****
A body recovered from a crashed plane carrying Cardiff City's new signing Emiliano Sala has been formally identified as the footballer.
The light aircraft came down in the English Channel last month.
The pilot David Ibbotson has not been found.
****
The boss of Amazon has accused a US tabloid of trying to "extort and blackmail him" over an affair.
Jeff Bezos claims the National Enquirer threatened to publish revealing photographs of him - unless he stopped calling their reporting "politically motivated".
The world's richest man recently announced he is divorcing his wife MacKenzie.
