What the papers say: Thursday's front pages
Ottoline Spearman
Reactions from the Fianna Fáil report into the failed presidential election campaign, and a variety of crime, politics, and health stories dominate Thursday's front pages.
The Taoiseach has staved off a rebellion from within his party - for now at least - after Tuesday's publication of a report into Fianna Fáil's failings during the presidential election, reports the Irish Times. Britain has also rejoined the Erasmus scheme, an EU student initiative, which will see the country pay €650 million to the EU to rejoin the scheme. That's after the UK left it following Brexit, with Boris Johnson deeming it too expensive. And hospitalisations have increased by 20 per cent in the last week, as the flu continues to worsen.
The GAA will be addressing the cost of county teams, which can cost up to €120m annually, a cost that is unsustainable, according to the Irish Examiner. And a legal challenge taken against the Government’s new guidelines for apartment building standards is to be referred to the Court of Justice of the EU.
Cork City Council has changed its mind about what should happen to three blocks of social housing flats - now planning to maintain full occupancy of the flats which are prone to "rodent infestation", despite previously saying it would demolish them. That's the Echo's splash this Thursday morning.
The Taoiseach is on "borrowed time", party sources have told the Irish Independent, as the report has served to exacerbate divisions in Fianna Fáil.
The Irish Daily Mirror leads with the case that kicked off the Citywest riots, where the 26-year-old is on trial for alleged sexual assault against a 10-year-old girl.
The Irish Daily Star reports on the skyrocketing costs at a school in Co Louth where children have been asked to bring their own loo roll.
The Irish Daily Mail reports how President Catherine Connolly is under fire after welcoming Greta Thunberg to the Áras on Wednesday, after she posted a video calling on Palestinian activists to "mobilise and escalate" hours after the attack on the Jewish community on Bondi beach.
The Herald leads with the case of a granny who was stabbed in the head with a seven inch knife in Dublin city centre.
And finally, the Belfast Telegraph leads with a sexual harassment case against a teenager who was "slapped on the bottom" by her manager at JD sports. The case has now been settled for €65,000.
