Newsround: what Monday's papers say

Numbers using domestic violence service rise and Varadkar seeks proposals to tackle white collar crime

Tuesday's papers

The top stories in Monday's newspapers:

THE IRISH TIMES

- The paper reports that the country's leading in-court support service for women who have experienced domestic abuse has seen an increase in clients of more than 30 per cent so far this year while there has been a six per cent rise in the number of domestic violence orders applied for nationally to more than 15,000 cases.

- It also says that Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has signalled to colleagues that he will take direct control of proposed legislation on the reform of judicial appointments amid Fine Gael concerns over the influence of Independent Alliance minister Shane Ross.

- New laws to grant immunity to whistleblowers, a new Garda unit to investigate corporate crimes and changes to the way evidence is brought to court could all form part of a package of measures to combat white collar crime, the paper says. The suggestions are made in a discussion document circulated last week by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's office.

- In its business section, the paper says that the Ibec division that represents the drinks industry wants a 15 per cent cut in excise duties in the budget for all categories of alcohol, a move that would cost the Exchequer up to €223 million. The lobby group made the call in its budget submission to the Department of Finance last week.

FINANCIAL TIMES

- Italy has moved to shore up confidence in its fragile banking system after agreeing to pump €5 billion of taxpayers' money into two failed mid-sized banks while handing their good assets to Intesa Sanpaola, the country's strongest lender, the paper reports on its front page.

- It also says that an investment fund owned by Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman has agreed to buy Holland & Barrett, one of the biggest health food retailers in Europe, in a £1.8 billion deal. Fridman's L1 Retail will take control of the chain, which has 1,150 stores in the UK, China, India, the Netherlands and UAE, from its private equity owners Carlyle Group.

- The FT's Big Read focuses on the advertising industry, reporting that it has benefitted over the past five years from the growth in online publicity but big agencies are starting to feel the impact of the disruption that technology companies have created.

- In its Companies & Markets section, the paper reports that Brussels plans to hit Google this week with a fine of more than €1 billion for abusing its dominance in internet searches, a decision that is likely to inflame already-strained transatlantic relations.

IRISH INDEPENDENT

- The paper reports that the lead investigator behind the botched probe into former Anglo boss Seán FitzPatrick raised grave fears in a series of emails about the lack of resources and experience available to his team. But the emails sent by Kevin O'Connell, the legal adviser to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, were only forwarded to the government last month after the case had collapsed.

- It also says that there is mounting concern over a raft of secretive charges for extra activities in nursing homes, which can cost up to €5,000 a year, for residents who in some cases are too frail to even participate.

- Construction work has yet to begin on some 23,000 homes in the capital despite full planning permission being in place, the paper says. It reports that figures from the Department of Housing show that despite the shortage of new homes coming to the market, there is no activity on 203 sites out of a total of 348 where permission for new homes has been secured.

- It also says that parents are being forced to turn to their savings to find an average of €845 to pay for their child's First Holy Communion with almost half of the money going on the celebratory party afterwards.

IRISH EXAMINER

- Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has warned two of Ireland's most senior judges that they must respect the independence of government to perform its duties, insisting separation of powers between the groups works both ways. Varadkar hit back at the judiciary after the two judges became embroiled in a row with Transport Minister Shane Ross over plans to reform judge appointments.

- Weeks after the Supreme Court ruled that a ban on asylum seekers working was unconstitutional, the government has been accused of seeking "caveats" to its implementation, the paper says, noting about 3,000 asylum seekers may now be eligible to work.

- Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has denied the government is planning a "giveaway" budget which, while winning short-term support, could seriously damage the economy. Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Donohoe said the recovery is continuing and that it is his intention to ensure it can be felt in every household in the country.

- The Director of Public Prosecutions paid the three barristers who prosecuted Seán FitzPatrick just over €1 million in the longest-running criminal trial in the state. DPP figures show that the lead prosecutor in the case, Dominic McGinn, received €517,215, including €96,715 in VAT, for his work.