DUBLIN, Feb 19 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Ireland's newspapers on Monday. Reuters has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy:

THE IRISH TIMES

- Tanaiste Michael McDowell yesterday announced plans to reduce the burden of stamp duty on all housebuyers if the Progressive Democrats are returned to government. The party also committed itself to cut the two rates of income tax.

- Airtricity, the Dublin-based renewable energy company, plans to build wind energy facilities large enough to supply a million homes with electricity. Wind turbines in Texas will produce energy that, if produced from non-renewable fuels, would cause the release of more than six million tonnes of harmful CO2 emissions into the atmosphere each year.

- The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has rejected nuclear power as a solution to global warming and has promised a "comprehensive" national climate-change strategy by Easter.

IRISH INDEPENDENT

- Irish people drank almost 732 million litres of alcoholic drink last year ... but believe it or not, that's a marked reduction on our boozy habits of a decade ago.

- Writer and former GAA star JJ Barrett is to withdraw his father's medal collection from the Croke Park museum in a protest against the playing of 'God Save the Queen' at next weekend's Ireland versus England rugby match.

IRISH EXAMINER

- A promising young footballer sidelined from key international games because of a passport difficulty has finally been granted Irish citizenship. Nigerian born Emeka Onwubiko was unable to play competitive games or matches abroad despite being one of the country's top young scorers.

- The discovery in fishing nets of a species of giant prawn normally found in the Indian and Pacific oceans has led to fears among marine biologists of an invasion.

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