Ministers get in the mood at cosy political get-together

IF PROOF was ever needed politicians spoil all the fun, it came in a cavalcade to Dundalk Institute of Technology.

Students there were earnestly applying their expensively educated intellects to feverish preparations for a world record attempt at the most hugs in an hour — an event to be staged in their common room next Tuesday — when along came the suits to render their efforts obsolete.

For so much verbal hugging took place between the members of the North South Ministerial Council before, during and after their gathering that a boa constrictor would have pleaded for mercy.