The Front Pages
Today’s main headlines on the front pages of the national broadsheets:
‘Bailed suspects commits fifteen murders,’ The Irish Examiner.
‘Uprorar over threat to cut the old age pension,’ The Irish Independent.
‘Taoiseach defends his handling of economy before crash,’ The Irish Times.
Bail law and practises will come under scrutiny following a report released to, and published by, Fine Gael. The statistics are broken down in The Irish Examiner between 2008 and March 2010. While the primary suspect was out on bail there was 15 murders, 47 sexual offences and 122 aggravated burglaries. Other crimes have been committed while suspects have been out on bail including car theft, murder threats and firearm possessions.
Social Welfare Minister Eamon O Cuiv is certainly not the flavour of the month in the DaÃl as he will not refuse to rule out a cut to old age pensions. The Irish Independent tells us that Mr O Cuiv thinks the government should target wealthy pensioners in the next Budget and reckons the annual €5 billion spent on pensions needs to take a hit.
In a speech at Dublin City University last night Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, admitted mistakes were made by government when he held the position of Minister of Finance before the collapse our economy, but, would not take the blame for mismanaging the nation’s finances. The Irish Times has the full story on Cowen’s defence of his Cabinet history.
