METRO Wednesday, November 18, 2009 D METRODigest A LUXURY Malaysian beach resort has offered guests a free night if rainfall exceeds 3cm (1in) during their stay. To qualify, however, guests must book an all-inclusive three-day package. The Tanjong Jara resorts Everybody Loves Rain promotion comes during the regions rainy season and as tourism figures show a sharp decline. A resort spokesman said the high chances of rain and subsequent free nights prove every cloud has a silver lining. IRELAND is the 14th least corrupt country in the world, sharing its place with Germany in an index which surveyed 180 countries. Its score of eight out of ten, which improved for the second year running, moved from 7.7 since last year on the Corruption Perceptions Index. A score close to ten indicates extremely low levels of corruption, according to Transparency International Ireland. New Zealand was the top-ranked country on the index, with a score of 9.4, with Denmark next at 9.3, and followed by Singapore and Sweden, both on 9.2, while the UK ranked 17th, with a score of 7.7. Bottom of the index is Somalia, followed by Afghanistan, Burma, Sudan and Iraq. Ireland is less corrupt than last year Santa babies: Actress Amy Huberman and two-year-old Alice Bryne, launch the Great Irish Bake Christmas Appeal in aid of Temple Street Childrens Hospital TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has defended the provision of more than 500,000 from his departments budget last year to fund the cost of advisers to the Minister for Health. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny criticised the system, asking the Taoiseach how the 514,000 payment for advisers to Mary Harney last year could be justified given that she was no longer a leader of a minority Government party. Mr Cowen claimed his department had covered the cost as he had a particular interest in health matters in his role as chair of the Cabinet health sub-committee. He also confirmed the cost of the seven advisers to his own department since June 2007 was 2.8million. Cowen paid m for Harney advisers A TAXI driver has been convicted of raping a passenger as he drove her home from a nightclub. John Ryan, 43, had pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault, claiming the 21-year-old woman had initiated sex and only became angry when she saw his wedding ring. But he also claimed to garda a medical condition prevented him having sex. He was found guilty by a jury in the Central Criminal Court. Ryan, of Clonard Westbury, Co Limerick, left the meter running during the attack, and was tracked down using the receipt the woman grabbed before leaving the car. He had driven his 21-year-old victim to a quiet place 20 minutes from where he picked her up in Limerick City. Rapist taxi driver tracked by receipt WATER charges must be introduced to protect drinking supplies in the face of climate change, top engineers have warned. In a report to be handed to Environment Minister John Gormley (pictured) today, the Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE) claims failure to act now will put society and the economy at unacceptable risk. Pointing to the devastating experiences of New Orleans, the IAE called for an all-Ireland approach to predict how floods, drought or energy supplies may affect the island. Charges aid water supply FORMER justice minister Maire Geoghegan-Quinn was yesterday nominated as the Irelands next EU commissioner. Ms Geoghegan-Quinn (pictured) held the senior cabinet position in the early 1990s and also served as tourism minister. For nine years she has been the Irish member of the European Court of Auditors, which examines if EU funds are being used correctly. Taoiseach Brian Cowen said Ms Geoghegan-Quinns combination of experience and qualities suited her for the top role. Ex-minister for new EU role METROE-MAIL US AT: mail@metroireland.ie TELL What do you think of whats going on in the news? Or do you have a witty view on the bizarre little things in life? We want to hear from you for Irelands liveliest letters page Oh dear Brian, youve come last FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan has come last in a ranking of European finance ministers for his performance over the past 12 months. French finance minister Christine Legarde was first of the 19 ministers ranked by the Financial Times in terms of their political skills and the performance of their economies. Eirk Nielsen of Goldman Sachs praised Mr Lenihan for the bold measures he had taken to address the countrys economic and banking crisis. However, other judges were highly critical of what the FT referred to as Irelands go- it-alone approach in the aftermath of the Lehman Brothers collapse, which saw the Government introduce a bank guarantee. Lenihan blocks new AIB bosss 633,000 wageBy COlm KelpIe FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan last night threw out plans by Allied Irish Banks to pay its new managing director a salary 133,000 above a Government-imposed pay cap. AIB wants to promote senior execu- tive Colm Doherty, who already earns 633,000, with his salary expected to stay unchanged. Under the rules of the 3.5billion State prop-up for the bank, Mr Lenihan (pic- tured) insisted chief executives wages should be limited to 500,000. He said Cabinet ministers agreed not to breach the wage cap despite the finance houses request, but opposition parties said the bank felt it could do whatever it wanted. I can tell you the Government are not willing to break with the estab- lished guideline in this case, Mr Lenihan said. ministers agreed not to breach the wage gap That was my position, that was the position of the Government and thats where the matter stands. Taoiseach Brian Cowen told the Dil talks between the Department of Finance and the bank were ongoing. He said it was important to allow the process to develop to find an ar- rangement that was consistent with the Government position. But Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny hit out at the Government and asked why the matter had not been dealt with given the States 25 per cent stake in the bank. This is one of the major institutions that was centrally involved in the de- bacle that we now find ourselves in, financially and economically, he said. It says to the Government, you have no moral authority, you have lost credibility and you are losing integri- ty, and we will do what we like. Labours finance spokeswoman, Joan Burton, said: AIBs determina- tion to appoint an insider to the top position is a reflection... that little has changed at the top in the banks. Actors George mcmahon and leanne moore and an eight- foot-tall giant launch Jack And The Beanstalk, this years panto at The Gaiety Theatre which runs from November 29 FEE, FI, Fo, FUM! index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html