What the papers say: Thursday's front pages
Eva Osborne
A range of stories feature on the front pages of Irish newspapers on Thursday.
People who object to infrastructure projects could be offered damages rather than being allowed judicial reviews to delay a project under a new plan, The Irish Times reports.
On Wednesday, the Government unveiled its plan for speeding up the delivery of large projects amid concerns that Ireland’s infrastructure won’t be able to keep up with economic and population growth.
The Irish Examiner leads with a study by experts from the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences revealing that almost 20 per cent of 15-16 year-olds have had an explicit image of them shared without their consent, while the growth of sexting is leading to poorer mental health and increased risk of self-harm.
A Cork TD has said it is "staggering" that the State is paying €26 million for a 20-year lease on Cork's planned new passport office - or €1.3 million per year - for a premises which "we will never own", The Echo reports.
The Irish Independent leads with almost 200 adult asylum-seekers being placed into Tusla's children's accommodation over the last three years before it emerged that they were over the age of 18.
Disturbing images from inside Jeffrey Epstein's mansion have been released, according to the Irish Daily Mirror.
The Irish Daily Star leads with Enoch Burke being told he will remain in jail over Christmas unless he purges his contempt of court.
Thomas Markle (81), who has been estranged from his daughter since her 2018 marriage to Prince Harry, was rushed to hospital on Tuesday after being taken gravely ill at his home in the Philippines, the Irish Daily Mail reports.
The Herald leads with a woman who sued MMA fighter Conor McGregor over an alleged sexual assault in the US dropping the case.
