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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Economy tops British-Irish talks | Economy tops British-Irish talks |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Economic turmoil, energy use and the fight against poverty are set to head the agenda at a summit of leaders from across the British Isles. | Economic turmoil, energy use and the fight against poverty are set to head the agenda at a summit of leaders from across the British Isles. |
| First Minister Alex Salmond will be taking part in the British-Irish Council talks in Cardiff. | First Minister Alex Salmond will be taking part in the British-Irish Council talks in Cardiff. |
| Mr Salmond said the effects of the current crisis may be felt for decades. | Mr Salmond said the effects of the current crisis may be felt for decades. |
| The meeting, chaired by the Welsh first minister Rhodri Morgan, will also be attended by the Irish prime minister and the secretary of state for Wales. | The meeting, chaired by the Welsh first minister Rhodri Morgan, will also be attended by the Irish prime minister and the secretary of state for Wales. |
| Mr Morgan is keen to explore how voluntary organisations can help those worst hit by unemployment. | Mr Morgan is keen to explore how voluntary organisations can help those worst hit by unemployment. |
| Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen will be explaining the austerity measures his government has had to take, while Paul Murphy, the secretary of state for Wales, will be explaining what the UK Government is doing to help. | |
| Mr Salmond told BBC Radio Scotland that Scotland needed full financial powers in order to respond to the economic downturn. | Mr Salmond told BBC Radio Scotland that Scotland needed full financial powers in order to respond to the economic downturn. |
| He said: "The implications and consequences of the financial crisis are going to be with us for years, perhaps decades to come." | He said: "The implications and consequences of the financial crisis are going to be with us for years, perhaps decades to come." |
| The first minister attacked the handling of the situation and called for a clearer strategy from Downing Street for tackling the economy. | The first minister attacked the handling of the situation and called for a clearer strategy from Downing Street for tackling the economy. |
| Borrowing powers | Borrowing powers |
| He added: "I think, believe and hope that if we do the right things in Scotland we'll emerge stronger and better and I think we'll probably avoid the full implications of what's happening elsewhere but it's going to be tough and rough in Scotland as it is elsewhere. | He added: "I think, believe and hope that if we do the right things in Scotland we'll emerge stronger and better and I think we'll probably avoid the full implications of what's happening elsewhere but it's going to be tough and rough in Scotland as it is elsewhere. |
| "But one thing has been demonstrated beyond any peradventure, beyond any argument and that is that at times like this you need the full range economic powers in order to combat recession and in particular you need borrowing powers. | "But one thing has been demonstrated beyond any peradventure, beyond any argument and that is that at times like this you need the full range economic powers in order to combat recession and in particular you need borrowing powers. |
| "Every single government in the western world is borrowing to increase demand to fight the full extent of this recession - the fact that Scotland and Wales for example don't have borrowing powers means that the governments in Scotland and Wales are limited in what we can, or would wish to do in order to keep people in work and keep the economy active." | "Every single government in the western world is borrowing to increase demand to fight the full extent of this recession - the fact that Scotland and Wales for example don't have borrowing powers means that the governments in Scotland and Wales are limited in what we can, or would wish to do in order to keep people in work and keep the economy active." |
| The first minister also called for a cap on bonuses in areas of the financial sector recapitalised by the taxpayer, such as the Royal Bank of Scotland. | The first minister also called for a cap on bonuses in areas of the financial sector recapitalised by the taxpayer, such as the Royal Bank of Scotland. |
| The meeting of the British-Irish Council is meant to give a forum for members to exchange information with a view to co-operating on issues of mutual interest. | The meeting of the British-Irish Council is meant to give a forum for members to exchange information with a view to co-operating on issues of mutual interest. |
| It also includes representatives from from Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. | It also includes representatives from from Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. |
| Mr Salmond is also set to meet with Prime Minister Gordon Brown next week. | Mr Salmond is also set to meet with Prime Minister Gordon Brown next week. |