Garda Commissioner Noirin O Sullivan
'Garda Commissioner still hiding in plain sight' is how Michael Clifford in the Irish Examiner describes the Commissioners appearance. He writes that Ms O Sullivan gave assured answers to a number of questions but revealed precious little. And that her performance did nothing to quell doubts about whether any confidence can be vested in the running of the force.
Conor Lally in the Irish Times questions how long the Commissioner may last. The Big charge, he writes is that she represents a "more of the same culture" rather than a new chapter for Irish Policing.
While Cormac McQuinn in the Irish Independent says Sticking to her lines on the whistleblower allegations the Commissioner was insistent she didn't know much about anything at all.
Chief executive of Goal
A report on the front of the Irish Times that Barry Andrews has resigned as chief executive of Goal as the aid agency reels from a US investigation into its multi-million euro aid operation in Syria. That investigation has resulted in the Government here withholding 10 million euro in funding from Goal
Budget
The fallout from the budget continues to make headlines. The Irish Independent reports that Government Ministers have been forced to give up a 12 thousand euro pay rise following huge public uproar over Budget 2017.
It seems Minster for Public Expenditure, Paschal Donohoe, is to formally ask cabinet colleagues in the coming weekes to waive their pay restoration. As for TD, its understood they will still be entitled to their €2700 pay rise next year.
Kitty Holland writing in the IrishTimes says that childcare providers have warned that they may not be able to provide the thousands of extra places likely to be required for children next September under the affordable childcare plans announced in the budget yesterday.
In an opinion piece in the Irish Examiner, Victoria White is taking theGovernment to task over those plans. She says the Government knows that full-time creche care puts babies and toddlers at risk of developing anti-social behaviour, but is providing it anyway. She cites a report from the UK National Audit Office, referenced by the interdepartmental working groups report to our Government, to outline her case.
While the lead story for the Irish Daily Mail says that Fianna Fail is to push the Taoiseach to expand the controversial childcare package to benefit more parents and childcare providers... and that stay at home parents be brought in by next year.
WE'RE SITTING DUCKS
The headline across the front of The Herald which reports that unarmed Gardai on protection duty for targets of the ongoing Kinahan/ Hutch feud have been denied requests to be given bulletproof vests.
'Quarter pounder with sleaze'
Both the Irish Daily Mirror and The Irish Star lead with the story of a 44-year-old man who exposed himself to a teenager working in McDonald's after ordering a breakfast meal from her. He received a fine at Ennis District Court yesterday.
Jim Carrey
And the lead story for The Irish Sun has more on actor Jim Carrey. The mother of his ex girlfriend is suing the actor for the wrong full death of her daughter. Cathriona White from Cappawhite Co Tipperary, died by suicide last September.
