What Tuesday's papers say

IRISH TIMES

- The Irish Times leads with the news that White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci has been ousted by the Trump administration ten days after he was appointed to the role, in the latest in a series of personnel scandals to engulf the White House.

- The paper reports on warnings from the Department of Finance's tax strategy group that across-the-board social welfare increases in the budget will be "very expensive". Instead, it suggests increases should be targeted at specific groups.

- In business, the Irish Times says the aviation regulator is considering a possible shake-up of rules governing tour operators and travel agents next year, with a view to determining whether its Travellers' Protection Fund can ensure that consumers are protected from the collapse of travel companies.

- The paper says the government believes that only an "ultrasoft Brexit" can honour previous agreements struck between Dublin and the main Northern Ireland parties on how to handle Britain's withdrawal from the EU. It quotes sources as saying that either Northern Ireland on its own or Britain as a whole must stay in the European single market and customs union to avoid an economic or trade border in Ireland.

FINANCIAL TIMES

- The Financial Times leads with a report by consultants Oliver Wyman, which finds that Brexit will push up costs for banks by as much as 4 per cent and that their capital requirements will increase by up to 30 per cent.

- The FT says world leaders condemned Venezuela yesterday for staging what they said was a fraudulent election to President Nicolás Maduro's all-powerful "constituent assembly", with many refusing to recognise the result.

- In companies news, the paper reports that Discovery Communications is buying Scripps Network Interactive for $14.6 billion, including debt, in a deal which brings TLC, Animal Planet, HGTV and the Food Network television channels under the same roof.

- The FT quotes people familiar with the matter as saying that music streaming pioneer Spotify is preparing for a public listing this year, having reached 60 million paying customers.

IRISH INDEPENDENT

- The Irish Independent leads with a report that a special deal to slash nursing home costs for farmers is in jeopardy after a dramatic intervention by the Office of the Attorney General, which has warned that any changes to the Fair Deal scheme must not reward farmers over other business owners.

- The paper says Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Children's Minister Katherine Zappone will today move to assure families of their commitment to reduce childcare costs through the announcement of 5,000 extra places for children.

- In business, the Irish Independent reports on a warning from the Irish Road Haulage Association that with more than 80 per cent of Ireland's road freight to Europe going through Britain, a post-Brexit hard border could force operators out of business.

- The paper says small business group ISME's pre-Budget submission has called for the top VAT rate to be cut from 23 per cent to 21 per cent and reliefs for business start-ups and entrepreneurs updated.

IRISH EXAMINER

- The Irish Examiner says a forthcoming review of the law on contempt of court by the state's legal advisory body is expected to make recommendations on the issue of citizen journalists and campaigners posting social media commentary questioning the evidence of witnesses during trials.

- The paper says Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has called for an independent review of proposed flood relief walls in Cork City, claiming they will damage the character of the entire city.

- In business, the Examiner says Heineken saw strong growth in its cider sales in Ireland during the first half of the year, something analysts view as putting more pressure on C&C Group, which owns Bulmers. Heineken owns the Orchard Thieves brand among others.

- The paper says newly-floated exploration company United Oil and Gas will consider acquiring licences off the coast of Ireland in the medium-term, after building cash reserves and executing a near-term expansion plan in mainland Europe.