The Government is refusing to say if it will accept calls to reform its multi-billion euro broadband plan which could force the project to stay in public ownership and subject it to another in-depth review.

A review carried out by the Communications Committee concluded the existing plan is based on a flawed tendering process and ignored viable alternative options.

Communications Minister Richard Bruton received correspondence pleading for the retention of An Post’s mail centre in Cork — but not on behalf of any of the others threatened with closure.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has urged pleaded with farmers not to desert the Government over the Mercosur trade deal, saying it is “not a done deal” and that Ireland can still make changes to protect the vital farming sector.

The consortium developing the State’s multibillion-euro national broadband project has been accused of “bringing nothing” to the plan amid claims a separate company is part-funding its investment.

Cross-party support for an Oireachtas committee investigation into the €5bn national broadband plan is likely to be agreed as the Government urges opposition parties to back the plan.

The Government's ambitious broadband plan will still come in six times over budget, a decade late and without any guarantees the State will ultimately own the service, the opposition has warned.

The Taoiseach has confirmed the cost of the National Broadband Plan could be around €3 billion.

Enet has said it remains committed to the National Broadband Plan project despite one of the consortium’s major players dropping out of the process. Enet is the only bidder for the plan.

The Government is to face strong opposition to plans to get Revenue to collect the TV licence. The high evasion rate is costing RTÉ €40m a year.

Renegade pro-life Sinn Féin TDs Carol Nolan and Peadar Tóibín are facing mounting pressure to decide if they will remain as party members or quit after colleagues voted to further liberalise Sinn Féin’s abortion policy.

More than a third of all household recycling bins are contaminated, the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment has heard.

It was as bad a day in the office as Denis Naughten has had in more than six years.

Fianna Fáil has accused Communications Minister Denis Naughten of acting like ‘ Comical Ali’ by refusing to allow an immediate review of the Government’s broadband plan because he believes it is still on track.

An Oireachtas committee has recommended that the TV licence fee should be collected by Revenue instead of An Post, and redesigned as “a non-device-dependent public service broadcasting charge” payable by all, including those who do not have a television.

Latest: The Dáil has voted for a waste collection pricing “watchdog”, as the row over proposed new bin charges escalated.

A 2013 Dáil sub-committee investigation into Ireland’s multinational tax laws refused a request from Opposition TDs to bring in companies including Apple, Facebook, and Google as it was “paralysed by fear”.

Rural representatives have warned that the rising cost of car insurance will drive more young people from rural areas.

Tánaiste Joan Burton says she has an open mind about extending the Ombudsman’s powers to enable him investigate complaints against Irish Water.

Sinn Féin TDs and senators yesterday voiced their support for leader Gerry Adams over his continued backing for convicted tax evader Tom ‘Slab’ Murphy.