A "nod-and-wink backstairs culture" which allows favoured friends of some of those in high office to undermine, evade and even flout the planning laws was described by Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain when he spoke on the Planning and Development Bill in the Dail on Tuesday.
Taking this for its lead news story, the Northern Standard printed O Caolain's statement in full, then commented that "he is to be commended for drawing attention to the prevalence of political patronage, for perusal of the reports of our local authorities in the files of this newspaper over the years would substantiate its existence".
It went further, suggesting that the lack of affordable houses in Co Monaghan - despite the Government having provided the money to build them - was being created by councillors reluctant to make possible sites available.
"Are our public representatives so busy `nodding and winking' that they have no eyes for future planning and allowed private developers to snap up the best of the building land in the vicinity of our towns?" it demanded.
The Longford News highlighted a link between derelict sites and "some of the most influential people in Longford town and even Longford County Council".
The Urban District Council has served 25 derelict-site notices, including one on a disused Garda hut at the home of the former Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds . The paper's list includes members of church, State, judiciary and business.
Mr James Reynolds, described as "a well-known local businessman", was sent letters on three matters: a disused building in a derelict condition on a parcel of land by the Dublin road, a disused petrol pump and forecourt at Richmond Street, and a derelict hotel at Annally Court.
The Western People reported that the Western Health Board is using taxis instead of ambulances in Ballina. "It will only be a matter of time before there will be a loss of life due to the `ridiculous' ambulance service," Mr Padraig Moore, a councillor, warned.
The Connaught Telegraph devoted its lead headline, no less, to the news that a Mayo "ace fullback" had a secret leap-day wedding at the Little White Chapel of Love in Las Vegas, where the bride was given away by an Elvis impersonator.
"Both our families are still flabbergasted," Mr Kevin Cahill told the newspaper on behalf of himself and his new wife, Ms Teresa Duffy. "It was a beautiful ceremony and exactly what we wanted."
A "mad dog attack" on a flock of hogget ewes in Co Carlow resulted in a quarter of the flock "being savagely mauled and killed", reported the Nationalist and Leinster Times. "The heavily pregnant ewes were scattered in all directions, as the ferocious dogs ran riot in the field. Many of the ewes were found drowned in a nearby drain."
The farmer, Mr Michael Foley, believes that all dogs should be microchipped so that owners can be held responsible for their actions.
"Any dog found not micro chipped should immediately be put down by a dog warden," he said.
The population is not the only thing that is swelling in Kerry, declared the Kerryman. "Time was when this county's bosoms were as natural as Kerry spring water. However, seeing is no longer believing," it said.
Surgical breast augmentation is the most popular form of plastic surgery with Kerry women, it said. "Seemingly bigger is better as upwardly mobile takes on a whole new meaning in the county," the newspaper declared.
For the Kilkenny People, the delivery of Tipperary Water to health board offices in Kilkenny was interpreted as confirmation that the public water is undrinkable. Under the headline "Chlorine shocker", the newspaper revealed that the city water supply has a higher level of chlorine than has the city swimming pool. On one occasion the amount of chlorine was double that in the pool.