PRESS DIGEST - Ireland - April 7

DUBLIN, April 7 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading
stories in Ireland's newspapers on Tuesday. Reuters has not
verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy:

THE IRISH TIMES

-A new state agency which will buy up billions of euro
worth of properties and development land loans from banks at
sharply reduced prices is to be announced in today's
supplementary budget.

- Aer Lingus (AERL.I) could be without a permanent successor
to departing chief executive Dermot Mannion for as long as six
months as the loss-making airline engages recruiters to seek
external candidates for the post, according to company sources.

IRISH INDEPENDENT

-The number of companies going bust almost trebled in the
last year, shocking new figures reveal.

- The pension funds of university professors "could be the
rabbit in the hat" and may rescue Finance Minister Brian Lenihan
today, the chief economist at Ulster Bank has said.

IRISH EXAMINER

- Taoiseach Brian Cowen has announced a cull of his junior
ministers in an attempt to deflect attention from the drastic
cuts expected in today's emergency budget.

- Despite being relatively new to Aer Lingus, former Ryanair
executive Sean Coyle is seen as a front-runner to succeed Dermot
Mannion as chief executive.

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