A CAP of €500,000 on bankers pay should be scrapped and lifted so banks can attract fresh talent and new leadership, according to Financial Regulator Matthew Elderfield.

The rapper-turned-actor Ice-T has signed a deal with Aiko Importers and Pay Up Management to promote a new beverage, named Original Gangster XO Brandy.

“A BIG change in banking culture” was what Finance Minister Brian Lenihan promised back in February 2009 when a major bailout was announced.

BANK directors in bailed- out institutions earned far in excess of what was recommended, figures compiled by the Irish Examiner show.

WILL the banks ever learn?

DIE HARD actor Bruce Willis is to invest in Belvedere SA, the French-Polish vodka maker that filed for creditor protection earlier this year.

FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan has insisted that legislation to prevent the abuse of tax reliefs for pension purposes is working, despite a recent report indicating otherwise.

FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan will use legislation if necessary to prevent executives of banks covered by the state guarantee from receiving bonuses in the immediate future.

Bank chiefs will have their wages capped at half a million euro, it was announced today.

SALARIES of top bankers could be halved as part of a deal to inject e7 billion of tax-payers’ money into Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank (AIB).

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen told the Dáil yesterday that executives hired to work at banks receiving state funds, such as Bank of Ireland and AIB, should take at least a 25% cut on basic pay.

A FORMER tánaiste and a number of ex-ministers are on the Government panel from which the six major banks and building societies covered by the guarantee scheme are to select additional board members.

The Government is to recoup €1bn from eleven banks protected under a two-year State guarantee scheme.

Drinks giant Diageo has ditched its interest in iconic Swedish vodka brand Absolut after today agreeing a deal for a 50% stake in Dutch vodka Ketel One.

VODKA drinkers should know exactly what their tipple is made from in future following agreement at EU level on a new spirit drinks regulation.