Pharmacy companies paid out €27.2m in payments to individual healthcare professionals, payments to healthcare organisations and on research and development last year, it has been confirmed.

Na Piarsaigh 0-13 Naomh Abán 0-3: Na Piarsaigh were on top of their game in Carrigadrohid on Saturday, producing a fine display of football to book a quarter-final place in the Cork Premier IFC. On a wet evening, they emerged easy victors in this round 2A clash against a Naomh Abán side that never got going.

ARTHRITIS suffers forced to wait years for treatment are becoming suicidal, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.

One of the country's leading experts on rheumatoid arthritis is calling for early treatment of the disease.