Financial Assistance (Ireland) Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Financial Assistance (Ireland)

Alec Shelbrooke Excerpts
Monday 22nd November 2010

(13 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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George Osborne Portrait Mr Osborne
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The fact that we export more to Ireland than to Brazil, Russia, India or China is a statement of the interconnectedness of the Irish and UK economies, but also an indictment of our exports to the fast-emerging BRIC countries, which is precisely why, since taking office, the Prime Minister has led major trade delegations to India and China, and why we want to ensure that companies in Macclesfield and throughout the country can export more to those fast-emerging new markets.

Alec Shelbrooke Portrait Alec Shelbrooke (Elmet and Rothwell) (Con)
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The Chancellor has been asked whether he has a smidgen of regret about his comments on the Irish economy, but does he not find it more incredible that the Opposition still believe that we should join the euro after the devastation that it brought to a thriving Irish economy?

George Osborne Portrait Mr Osborne
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As I have said, it is for the Opposition to speak to their own policy. As I understand it, they are still committed in principle to joining the euro—