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Galway sculptor Catherine Greene completes her figure of Christ. Five metres (16.5ft) tall, it will hang on a cross in a new basilica in Fatima, Portugal, which will hold 8,000. The work is being sent today to Oporto to be cast in bronze.

Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill

Consultants expected to reject revised contracts
New proposals which would see hospital consultants receive a basic salary of up to €205,000 per year for working revised contracts are expected to be rejected by the medical bodies.
'Feel-bad factor' as optimism lowest in 3 years
Consumer confidence has fallen to a three-year low, figures published yesterday indicate. Despite an expected boost from maturing SSIA savings, consumers feel less confident about their future than at any time since December 2003.
Heineken Cup mauled by money and power struggle
The Heineken European Cup yesterday finally imploded following disputes over money and power. The heady days of massive support for Leinster, Munster and Ulster in the competition now look certain to end.

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World

Climate report paints grim vista
BELGIUM: More than 100 million people across the globe could be flooded every year within 75 years due to global warming, a new report by climate change experts to be published this morning is expected to say. p
Passengers and crew safe after Greek cruise ship runs aground
GREECE: Hundreds of foreign tourists, including many American students, were safely evacuated from a Greek cruise ship that ran aground near the Aegean island of Santorini yesterday, authorities said. p
Blair salutes sailors' return but accuses some Iranians of terror links
BRITAIN: The 15 naval personnel freed by Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad celebrated their "dream come true" last night as they were reunited with their families at Royal Marines Base Chivenor in Devon. p
US admits supporting opposition to Mugabe
ZIMBABWE: The US admitted openly for the first time yesterday that it was actively working to undermine Robert Mugabe, the president of Zimbabwe. p

Ireland

Decision on Ahern payments complaints due soon
The Standards in Public Office Commission has said it will decide shortly on two complaints made about Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's acceptance of payments from businessmen in 1993 and 1994. p
New vaccines to be offered to children
An expert committee is set to recommend significant changes to the Republic's childhood immunisation scheme, The Irish Times has learned. p
Senior civil servant to head agency
A former secretary general of two Government departments, Kevin Bonner, is to be the chairman of the Government's new National Traveller Monitoring and Advisory Committee (NTMAC). p
Charities reform Bill faces delay
The Government has approved legislation to regulate charities and impose new controls on fundraising. p
Paisley chose powersharing over 'destruction of union'
Ian Paisley has said he decided to share power with Sinn Féin at Stormont rather than have "the union destroyed and [ the] setting up of a joint government by the South of Ireland". p
Councillor to be jailed has heart operation
Galway councillor Michael "Stroke" Fahy, who was due to begin a 12-month jail sentence earlier this week, underwent a cardiac procedure in hospital yesterday. p
More time for justice Bill debate
The decision of the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell to agree to demands for more time to debate the Criminal Justice Bill in the Dáil after the Easter recess has been welcomed by the Opposition. p
'Bigger' Limerick seen as key to rejuvenation
Limerick's city boundary should be extended to incorporate the portion of Co Limerick lying north of the Shannon to facilitate the regeneration of Moyross, according to former Dublin city manager John Fitzgerald. p

Finance

US drugs firm to create 70 jobs in Dublin
US biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences is to create 70 new jobs in Grange Castle Business Park, Clondalkin, Dublin. Ciarán Hancock reports. p
Spencer Dock firm in €380m deal
A consortium whose members include Treasury Holdings principals John Ronan and Richard Barrett has won the right to build a national conference centre in a deal valued at €380 million, writes Barry O'Halloran. p

Sport

Flawless Rose grabs the early lead
US Masters: Who could have foreseen it? As the 71st Masters tormented and teased those eyeing the prospect of having a green jacket slipped on their shoulders come Sunday evening, Justin Rose, a player wrapped in cotton wool for the past couple of months to protect a back injury, coped most admirably with all the questions posed by Augusta National, a course whose slick greens were aided and abetted by a constant breeze to add to the devilment of it all. p
Seville unrest as Keane goal gives hope
SOCCER/Sevilla 2 Tottenham 1: Tottenham and Sevilla look certain to face investigation from Uefa following a second successive night of violence involving English football fans in Europe. p
Monumental Ireland effort comes up short
RUGBY/Under-19 World Cup/Ireland 10 Australia 15: It was one of those occasions when fortune didn't favour the brave as Ireland rattled the defending champions to their back teeth only to come up marginally short. The Australians played just over half the match with 14 men after number eight Michael Uoka was sent off two minutes before the interval. p
Roma riots badly timed for Italians
Italian football yet again finds itself in the dock in relation to violence, in the wake of Wednesday night's Champions League clash between AS Roma and Manchester United. European football's governing body, Uefa, yesterday confirmed it would be investigating the events at the Olympic Stadium in Rome - where Italian riot police waded in to United's 4,000-strong travelling support - events seen by television audiences all over Europe . p