THE Health Service Executive (HSE) spent almost €45 million hiring agency staff to fill vacancies in the first five months of last year, more than three years into its ban on filling permanent posts.

THERE is a maddening predisposition in public service agencies to spend taxpayers’ money on outside companies and consultants rather than rely on their own resources, especially when those resources are readily available.

Media group Independent News & Media (INM) has said it has experienced "sustainable revenue growth" in each of its five primary markets so far this year.