THE Government has spent in excess of €6 million on mobile phone bills, photographers, media monitoring, entertainment and newspapers this year, figures have revealed.

IN AUTUMN 2004 I donned my wellies and visited the Ploughing Championships for the first time. I was impressed by the sheer scale and organisation of the event, but baffled by the absence of a food pavilion to showcase Irish food.

A major roll-out of broadband technology to rural Ireland will be announced later today.