LUNCHTIME BULLETIN: Ryanair to recognise pilot unions; Brexit phase two given go-ahead

Your lunchtime news bulletin.

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IRELAND: Planned Christmas strikes by Ryanair pilots could be called off after the airline said it would officially recognise unions.

IRELAND: A mother of five young children who lost her husband to cancer last month has been dealt another devastating blow after she saw all of her belongings go up in flames following a fire at the family home in Mallow, Co Cork

IRELAND: Irish Rail staff are unhappy after being offered a €500 Dunnes Stores voucher as their Christmas Bonus.

WORLD: European leaders have given the go-ahead for Brexit talks to move on to their second phase, dealing with the transition to a new relationship after the UK's withdrawal.

WORLD: Two more children have died from their injuries after a train sliced open a school bus in France, bringing the death toll to six.

SPORT: Diego Maradona has told Real Madrid they should offload Gareth Bale and replace him with Kylian Mbappe.

... SOME DISTRACTION

SHOWBIZ: Following the release of the band’s  fourth number one album Freedom Child, The Script announced that they will play an extra date at Cork's Live at the Marquee in June.

VIRAL: One Cork pub has decided to share the true meaning of Christmas and make the season a little easier of those spending it alone.

FEATURE: Greg Murphy offers advice to consumers who’ll be considering buying a new car in the coming weeks.