What it says in the papers

‘Revealed: the pay and perks of your local councillors’ reads the front of this morning’s Irish Independent as the newspaper reveals the average earnings of €30k for part-time politicians, the €52m paid out in two years and the eleven that earned more than €100k. The special investigation, today focusing on Dublin and Leinster, will continue this week.

‘FG veto welfare water charge waivers’ reads the front of the Irish Examiner. The newspaper reports that pensioners and people with disabilities will get €100 a year to help meet the cost of the water charges. The front page features a photo of Irish Eurovision entrant Kasey Smith and Austria’s Conchita Wurst at the Eurovision opening last night. Both wear white under the headline, ‘All white on the night at Eurovision’.

The Irish Times this morning leads with ‘Dublin and London want NI parties back in talks’. The paper reports that the Government is making preparations with British and American support to bring Northern parties back to the table this year to continue the discussion about the past, flags and parades.

The Irish Daily Mail leads with the story of nine-year-old Ellie Silva returning home to Ireland to her mother, brothers and sister. The child had been abducted for almost two years after her father abducted her and brought her to Portugal. ‘Home after two years’ the headline reads with a photo of Ellie with her thumbs-up.

The Irish Daily Mirror leads with ‘Love/Hate actor’s drug deal shame’ and reports that a real-life drug dealer has landed a part in the hit RTE drama series.

Both The Herald and the Irish Daily Star lead with the news that gangster ‘Fat Freddie’ has been arrested abroad. ‘Crime boss found in Dutch flat wearing a fake beard’, reads

The Herald. The Irish Daily Star leads with the fact that the criminal was caught with a fake passport.