Finance Ministers’ Meeting (Ireland) Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Finance Ministers’ Meeting (Ireland)

Ian Davidson Excerpts
Wednesday 17th November 2010

(13 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mark Hoban Portrait Mr Hoban
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right. It is noteworthy that Opposition Members have made yet another call for us to put off making difficult decisions. We see in Ireland what will happen if we do not make difficult decisions now and sovereign debt ratings come under pressure.

Ian Davidson Portrait Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow South West) (Lab/Co-op)
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Does the Minister agree that we should thank goodness that Scotland is part of the United Kingdom? Scottish banks were bailed out by the UK as a whole rather than being left to float loose as those in Ireland have been? Does he agree that if, when they are making cuts, the Government can find billions of pounds to bail out Ireland, they could better use that money to ameliorate the effect of the cuts in the UK?

Mark Hoban Portrait Mr Hoban
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As I said, no formal request has been made for assistance. We have a clear national interest in the stability of the Irish economy, and that must be recognised.