The Front Pages
Surprisingly good news on the Irish Independent front page for a change this morning, as Taoiseach Brian Cowen is hoping to create up to 30,000 construction jobs from a ‘multi-billion euro investment in school building, public transport and the retro-fitting of houses’. The Independent’s headline reads ‘Jobs pledge as Cowen puts €39b to work.’
The Taoiseach also claimed yesterday that a further 270,000 direct and indirect jobs could be created in the next isx years due to the planned investment. The Independent also follow up their headline with further editorial comment on the importance of the investment, and that it ‘must work’ for the sake of the country.
The Irish Times reports a similar story on today’s front page, but taken from a different slant – ‘Rail projects in Dublin spared in revised €39bn plan.’ Also mentioning the €39 billion capital investment plan, the Times focused on the prioritising of major rail projects such as Dublin’s new metro system and underground Dart interconnector.
Taking a more cautious approach, the Times also mentions that large-scale projects such as a new prison at Thorton Hall in north Dublin, and a new railway line to Navan, Co. Meath, have all been postponed.
Tales from the Tabs
‘Face that doctors built: Gun accident victim shows off world’s first full facial transplant’
The Daily Mail this morning reports on the first ever full face transplant recipient public appearance. Medical staff in Barcelona yesterday unveiled ‘Oscar’, a 31-year-old Spanish farmer, who participated in a press conference that charted his 4 months of progress in the city’s Universitari Vall d’Hebron.
Oscar had been horribly disfigured in a shooting accident five years ago, and had difficulty breathing or speaking properly. After two years of planning, 30 doctors performed a 24 hour operation on the brave recipient, which included complete facial skin and muscles, eyelids, nose, upper jaw, cheekbones and teeth.
During yesterday’s press conference Oscar stated: ‘I’m very happy to be here and I wanted to express my gratitude to the hospital and medical team and to all donors in Spain, especially the family of the man whose face I received.’
The Sports Pages
Roy Hodgson has apparently failed to persuade want-away Liverpool star Javier Mascherano to stay on with the Merseyside club, who now looks set to join Champions League victors Inter Milan for a £25m fee (Daily Mail).
Elsewhere, departed Real Madrid legend Raul has stated that his future lies in either Germany or England, alerting the likes of Tottenham and Newcastle in the process (Daily Mail).
Sky Sports News is reporting this morning that Irish international Aidan McGeady is to decide his immediate future, with only Spartak Moscow in the running for the 24-year-old. It is thought that a bid of £10m from the Russians should be enough to prise the Celtic star, should he decide to move.
Finally, Arsenal misfit Manuel Almunia is being targeted by his former club Osasuna, having not been confirmed a first-team position in Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal side this season (Daily Mail). It is thought that such a move could once again open the possibilities for another Gunners’ bid for Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer.
