What it says in the papers

IRISH TIMES

– The Irish Times leads with more results from its latest Ipsos MRBI opinion poll, which shows that a majority of people – 55 per cent – believe that the Eighth Amendment should be repealed to allow for limited abortion in cases of rape and fatal foetal abnormality.

– The paper also reports that the government will have about €200 million more than expected to spend in Tuesday's budget, something that resulted from "savings".

– In business, the Irish Times reports that the Central Bank's chief economist has questioned the need for extra stimulus given the economy is already growing strongly. Gabriel Fagan said yesterday that it was "very hard to argue" that the economy needs fiscal stimulus.

– The paper also reports that the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) may vote for industrial action that could put more than 500 secondary schools at risk of closure over the coming weeks.

FINANCIAL TIMES

– The Financial Times leads with the news of a big win for Britain's shale gas industry: government overturned local council objections to allowing Cuadrilla Resources, an oil and gas exploration company, from drilling four horizontal wells near Blackpool, the first time that permission was granted for a form of fracking that would extend beneath homes.

– The FT also reports on Mars' acquisition of Warren Buffet's minority stake in its Wrigley subsidiary, a move which tightens its grip on the confectionary market.

– The FT's front-page photo is of MEP Steven Woolfe, the Ukip MEP who is the favourite to lead his party, who was photographed lying face down on a European Parliament walkway after what the paper refers to as an "altercation" with a fellow Ukip MEP.

– The FT reports on what it calls "sharp divisions" among the North's political leaders, and between Belfast and Dublin, about the threat of a "hard" border on the island of Ireland after Brexit.

IRISH INDEPENDENT

– The Irish Independent says Finance Minister Michael Noonan will make a series of small tax cuts, including a cut of the USC on income up to €70,000, a lowering of Dirt tax for savers, and an increase in inheritance tax thresholds, in an attempt to produce a 'catch-all' budget.

– The paper says that the whistleblower at the centre of the latest garda controversy, Superintendent David Taylor, has alleged that he was personally told of a smear campaign against Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

– The Irish Independent notes that six people are now under criminal investigation in relation to Nama's Project Eagle sale.

IRISH EXAMINER

– The Irish Examiner also leads with a budget story, saying that an "all-inclusive social benefits package" is close to being agreed for the budget, one that will see increased payments for pensioners, carers, those with disabilities and impoverished families.

– The paper says it can reveal that one of the whistleblowers at the centre of the garda controversy has said he has "strong reservations" about any judge-led inquiry into the matter, because he no longer has access to mobile phone and other records that are central to his claims.

– The Examiner reports that rates of non-attendance at primary and secondary schools have gotten worse: more than one in 10 children at primary level, and more than one in six at secondary school level, are missing more than 20 school days each year.