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| Nuisance money claim 'ludicrous' | Nuisance money claim 'ludicrous' |
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| It "beggars belief" that the CBI can claim a multi-billion pound package for NI is little more than a "nuisance payment", a Welsh academic has said. | It "beggars belief" that the CBI can claim a multi-billion pound package for NI is little more than a "nuisance payment", a Welsh academic has said. |
| The money is dependent on devolution being restored at Stormont, and NI Secretary Peter Hain said no other part of the UK had got such a package. | The money is dependent on devolution being restored at Stormont, and NI Secretary Peter Hain said no other part of the UK had got such a package. |
| Cardiff Business School's Brian Morgan said NI's public sector was huge in comparison with Wales and Scotland. | Cardiff Business School's Brian Morgan said NI's public sector was huge in comparison with Wales and Scotland. |
| "To complain when you've that amount of public spending is incredible." | "To complain when you've that amount of public spending is incredible." |
| He was responding on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback to comments made by the chairman of CBI in Northern Ireland, Declan Billington. | |
| "What our politicians are offering is an excellent investment opportunity for the chancellor, but what he proposes is little more than a nuisance payment to make us to go away," Mr Billington had said. | |
| And the general consensus among Northern Ireland's politicians after meeting Chancellor Gordon Brown on Wednesday was that more work needed to be done to finalise the so-called peace dividend, which the government said was worth £50bn over 10 years. | And the general consensus among Northern Ireland's politicians after meeting Chancellor Gordon Brown on Wednesday was that more work needed to be done to finalise the so-called peace dividend, which the government said was worth £50bn over 10 years. |
| When you've got £3bn in new money, I would say to those people, 'smile, take the money and run' Brian MorganWelsh business academic Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said it was still early days, while the DUP called the funding plan an "opening offer" which represented no more than £3bn of new money. | When you've got £3bn in new money, I would say to those people, 'smile, take the money and run' Brian MorganWelsh business academic Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said it was still early days, while the DUP called the funding plan an "opening offer" which represented no more than £3bn of new money. |
| However, Peter Hain, who is also secretary of state for Wales, said even if this was the case, this sum would be very generous. | |
| This was echoed by Mr Morgan, who is director of enterprise and leadership at Cardiff Business School. | This was echoed by Mr Morgan, who is director of enterprise and leadership at Cardiff Business School. |
| "Let me put this into some kind of perspective here - even if the new money which is being put on the table is only £3bn, that represents an increase of 20-25% of the annual budget from Westminster to Wales," he said. | "Let me put this into some kind of perspective here - even if the new money which is being put on the table is only £3bn, that represents an increase of 20-25% of the annual budget from Westminster to Wales," he said. |
| "How a huge transfer of that size can be described as merely a 'nuisance payment' beggars belief." | "How a huge transfer of that size can be described as merely a 'nuisance payment' beggars belief." |
| Mr Morgan said given Northern Ireland's levels of public expenditure, there was no room for complaint. | Mr Morgan said given Northern Ireland's levels of public expenditure, there was no room for complaint. |
| "The public sector in Northern Ireland spends about 60% of its Gross Domestic Product compared to about 50% in Wales and Scotland and about 40% in England," he said. | "The public sector in Northern Ireland spends about 60% of its Gross Domestic Product compared to about 50% in Wales and Scotland and about 40% in England," he said. |
| "When you've got £3bn in new money, I would say to those people, 'smile, take the money and run'." | "When you've got £3bn in new money, I would say to those people, 'smile, take the money and run'." |
| We've tried to be more original rather than standing with a begging bowl saying, 'we want more' Brian MorganWelsh business academic Another area where politicians expressed disappointment was the government's refusal to lower corporation tax from 30% to 12.5% in line with the Irish Republic's rate. | We've tried to be more original rather than standing with a begging bowl saying, 'we want more' Brian MorganWelsh business academic Another area where politicians expressed disappointment was the government's refusal to lower corporation tax from 30% to 12.5% in line with the Irish Republic's rate. |
| Mr Hain said EU law banned the government from lowering corporation tax levels solely in Northern Ireland. | Mr Hain said EU law banned the government from lowering corporation tax levels solely in Northern Ireland. |
| And Mr Morgan said the Treasury had told politicians in Wales something similar. | And Mr Morgan said the Treasury had told politicians in Wales something similar. |
| "But we've looked at other methods such as reducing business rates, we've tried to be more original rather than standing with a begging bowl saying, 'we want more'." | "But we've looked at other methods such as reducing business rates, we've tried to be more original rather than standing with a begging bowl saying, 'we want more'." |