What the papers say

Journalist Fionola Meredith takes a look at what is making the headlines in Tuesday's morning papers.

The Belfast Telegraph carries a special report from Helmand Province in Afghanistan, after six Royal Irish soldiers were injured in a bomb attack there.

Inside the paper, the question is: "Has Iris gone too far this time?"

The paper reports on reaction to Mrs Robinson's latest controversial remarks, apparently comparing homosexuality to child abuse.

There was a protest outside city hall on Tuesday, and the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has confirmed that it has received a number of complaints about the comments, but the Westminster watchdog admits that no action can be taken.

The paper has carried out a poll that found 71% of respondents believe Iris Robinson should resign.

Healy sorry

"Sorry" - that's the simple headline in the News Letter, beside a picture of a chastened-looking David Healy, after his public apology for that flute-playing gesture he made at a weekend game.

He tells the Irish News of his "embarrassment and regret at his mistake" - but he adds that "people should see it in the context of the atmosphere at the game, and the banter aimed at him at the time".

There was an expectation from Celtic fans, he says, that he would "acknowledge their special wit".

"Fair enough," says the paper, - "let's consign it to the past now".

More smoothing of ruffled feathers in the Dublin papers, as they report on French President Nicolas Sarkozy's lightning fast visit to the Irish Republic.

French kiss

"No, he wasn't arrogant or dictatorial about the 'no' vote for the Lisbon treaty," says the Irish Independent.

"He had not come to conquer but to soothe", it reports.

Miriam Lord, in the Irish Times, also reflects on the "emergency charm offensive".

"There was to be no traditional Irish welcome when he screeched into Merrion Street," she notes.

Instead, Mr Sarkozy was met by a volley of eggs and a placard telling him to "mind your own business, onion head".

But "the visit went swimmingly all the same," she says - although she notes that "the taoiseach was obviously mortified by the lavish kisses Mr Sarkozy planted on each of his cheeks".

"Biffo air kissed gamely," she says.

'He'll be the laughing stock of Clara, but at least he can say he puckered up for Ireland'.

Recession fears

In the cross-channel papers the shelving of the Madeleine McCann case - and the lifting of official suspect status from her parents - is the biggest story.

And a new poll in the Guardian shows the scale of public alarm about the economy.

"80% of people fear we are heading for recession," the paper says.

No more nice new clothes and less use of the car are the main ways consumers plan to cut back.

And finally, the Daily Telegraph reports that police dog handlers will have to consider whether criminals have allergies before conducting searches.

The new rules have been brought in because of fears that suspects with medical conditions such as asthma could sue if they suffer an allergy or panic attack during a police raid.

Police officers are sceptical - one said, "The traditional shout of 'stand still or I'll set the dog on you", will become: "Excuse me, my police dog is quite hairy and might cause alarm as he sinks his fangs into your right thigh. Is that all right with you?"