What the papers say

Journalist Keith Baker reviews Monday's morning newspapers

Following the assembly's suspension and the restoration of devolution at the weekend, the Mirror and Express both report that Bono and U2 started the ball rolling when they started their gig in Manchester on Saturday night with a prayer for peace.

His advice to the crowd, and any politicians who might have been listening, is that "compromise" might not be such a bad word after all.

The Irish Times says the pro-Agreement parties will be invited to talks later this month after the publication of the policing reform package and criminal justice proposals.

The Irish News gives its main headlines to the warnings from Gerry Adams, saying Sinn Fein will not be bullied into a new deal.

Holiday absence criticised

One of the Irish Independent's commentators is critical of David Trimble's decision to go off on his holidays.

He says the most damaging thing about his absence will be the signal its gives to the other parties and the effect it will have on their behaviour.

It is effectively saying that although the secretary of state has provided six weeks for further reflection, the first three do not really matter, the commentator says.

The Irish Times' political commentator says that despite the clamour from the politicians in the past weeks, there are indisputable signs that Northern Ireland is progressing from a deeply troubled state to one where consensus and normal politics are becoming accepted.

He notes that this was the weekend of the 30th anniversary of internment and the 20th anniversary of the hunger strikes, which would previously have been sufficient excuses for massive street disorder.

Instead, he reports, on Friday and Saturday night he drove around north and west Belfast without seeing a single stone or petrol bomb thrown.

Teenage health report

Both the News Letter and the Irish News give front page headlines this morning to what is described as a "shock report" on underage drinking and drug abuse.

Tobacco, cannabis and alcohol are ruining young lives - the News Letter headline says.

The Irish News editorial believes people will be taken aback by figures which show that 40 per cent of boys and 30 per cent of girls have used some form of illicit drug.

But it feels that if each of us knew the warning signs of drug, alcohol or solvent abuse, we had perhaps be in a much better position to prevent a young life from being blighted or even lost.

Paper supporting action

Meanwhile, the News Letter is encouraging people to support the Omagh relatives in their legal action against people they believe were involved in the bombing.

It says the families have borne their tremendous grief with great resilience and no small amount of dignity.

"Their example has been an inspiration to everyone who believes that good will always triumph over evil," it says.

The paper feels they have already paid a price beyond reason and the people of Northern Ireland should not permit them to lose sleep over raising the necessary funds to finance their court action.