French President Francois Hollande will face the media today as his affair continues to dominate French news.

Mr. Hollande is holding a press conference in Paris this afternoon on economic reform, but he is expected to face a barrage of questions on his private life.

The French First Lady Valerie Trierweiler is still in hospital, said to be suffering from a broken heart.

Actress Julie Gayet

The French media is gripped by the affair between President Hollande and the actress Julie Gayet, who is 18-years his junior.

Another issue which officials will have to answer is the question of security of the President. A paparazzo who took pictures of Mr. Hollande arriving at the apartment where Ms. Gayet was staying told a French radio station the President's safety was compromised.

There are also reports of links between the owner of the apartment, where the liaison took place and the Corsican mafia.

France Correspondent with the Irish Times is Lara Marlowe. She says nobody from the Elysee Palace has denied the affair took place.