Finance Ministers’ Meeting (Ireland) Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Finance Ministers’ Meeting (Ireland)

Kelvin Hopkins 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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I hear my hon. Friend’s words, but reiterate to him and to the rest of the House that no request has been made for assistance, and that it would be inappropriate to make any further comments.

Kelvin Hopkins Portrait Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)
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I have a large number of Irish constituents, and I am naturally concerned about their families and livelihoods back in Ireland. The fact is that the Irish crisis is part of a wider crisis in the eurozone, affecting a number of countries that will be unable to sustain long-term membership of the euro. Is it not time to have discussions—privately, perhaps—about the possibility of reconstructing national currencies, particularly the punt, so that the Irish can join the sterling zone, where they belong, and not the eurozone?

Mark Hoban Portrait Mr Hoban
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I am sure that the Irish Government will have heard the hon. Gentleman’s remarks. It is not for this Government to dictate policy to other EU member states.