D Friday, September 11, 2009 METRO Model Sarah Morrissey was at Heuston Station in Dublin to launch Taxsaver.ies online calculator. The new savings calculator details exactly how much can be saved by purchasing a taxsaver commuter ticket from Iarnrd ireann or Dublin Bus Picture: Photocall SheS got the numberS Son saw father slip to his death A FATHER who tried to jump to his sons hotel room balcony from his own fell to his death. Chris Riley, who had been drinking, locked himself out of his own room and intended to gain access through his sons balcony at a hotel in Dorset, England. His son Nicky, 23, was woken by his screams and found him hanging on to the 40ft-high balcony but he could not pull his father up. 15billion aid plan to cut emissions EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas is proposing to offer up to 15billion a year in aid to developing countries to entice them to sign up to a new global climate change pact. He says the aid will help such countries to limit their emissions growth. The offer aims to push ahead slow progress in negotiations to reach a new global climate agreement, Drug centre asks why elton has to fund needle schemeA LEADING drug addiction centre yes- terday hit out at Government plans to use a charity set up by Sir Elton John to fund a national needle-exchange service. The singers international aids founda- tion will contribute 750,000 over three years to help roll out the programme for drug users across the country. But Merchants Quay Ireland said the handout sent mixed signals about the de- termination to tackle the countrys drug problems. By juSTIn MIcHaelS If it is a government priority, it seems a bit odd that were relying on an interna- tional charity to implement government priorities, said director Tony Geoghegan. Its for a three-year period but whats go- ing to happen if the Elton John Foundation pulls out after the three-year period? The scheme will operate in 65 commu- nity pharmacies across the country and is part of plans to tackle drug abuse over the next eight years, with the Government promising 25 per cent more rehab beds, increased security in prisons and tighter monitoring of so-called headshops offer- ing legal highs. The National Drugs Strategy was launched by the Taoiseach and called for long-awaited random drug testing of driv- ers should be brought in, but did not give a deadline. Junior minister John Curran said the Government would spend 270million on drug programmes this year. Foundation: elton Pirate parrot pecks police A ROOKIE policeman was attacked by a parrot that had been perched on its eccentric owners shoulder when she was pulled over. Furious at being parted from its keeper, the macaw repeatedly bit and scratched PC Martin Dadd while he drove it to a police station in Kent, England. It turned out that the bird starred in Pirates Of The Caribbean as the mouthpiece of a mute Pirate Cotton. But it could be some time before the pesky pecker will be reunited with its owner after she was arrested and taken into custody for driving while disqualified for the 14th time. v1 index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html