Post by Stallit 2 de Halfo on Sept 26, 2008 17:42:40 GMT
Gilmore criticises Government part in private conference
Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore has criticised the Government’s participation in a privately run business event next month, which offers participants the chance to discuss the economy with the Taoiseach and senior Ministers at a cost of up to €1,950 per head.
The event, run by the Economist Intelligence Unit, a worldwide research and consultancy company, is billed as a business ‘roundtable’ with the Government and takes place in Dublin at the end of October.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan and Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan are listed as speakers on the conference website.
“It appears that those who are willing to cough up €1,950 to participate in this conference will have far greater opportunities for discussions with Brian Cowen, Brian Lenihan and Mary Coughlan - the three Ministers responsible for economic policy - than are normally available to most members of the Dáil,” Mr Gilmore said.
“I have no problems at all about government Ministers meeting with business people from at home or abroad, but I have very strong reservations about government ministers participating in what is essentially a commercial enterprise dressed up as some sort of public forum.
“It seems that the government is now intent on privatising debate on the economy.”
Mr Gilmore said the decision of so many ministers to participate in such an event “at a time when they have refused to allow the Dáil to have a comprehensive debate on the economy suggests a skewed set of priorities”.
The conference website says the roundtable “offers an exclusive chance to explore the key economic issues with government leaders, Irish business executives and experts from the Economist Intelligence Unit”.
It says issues such as the Government’s key policies for tackling global and domestic challenges to the economy and how the Government can work with businesses to attract more foreign investment.
The one-day conference will also explore whether Ireland can “continue to be an international centre for business processing, competing with lower-cost countries such as India”.
How ministers plan to reduce inflation to bring it in line with other European countries is also listed as a topic for discussion.
© 2008 irishtimes.com
www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0926/breaking58.htm
Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore has criticised the Government’s participation in a privately run business event next month, which offers participants the chance to discuss the economy with the Taoiseach and senior Ministers at a cost of up to €1,950 per head.
The event, run by the Economist Intelligence Unit, a worldwide research and consultancy company, is billed as a business ‘roundtable’ with the Government and takes place in Dublin at the end of October.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan and Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan are listed as speakers on the conference website.
“It appears that those who are willing to cough up €1,950 to participate in this conference will have far greater opportunities for discussions with Brian Cowen, Brian Lenihan and Mary Coughlan - the three Ministers responsible for economic policy - than are normally available to most members of the Dáil,” Mr Gilmore said.
“I have no problems at all about government Ministers meeting with business people from at home or abroad, but I have very strong reservations about government ministers participating in what is essentially a commercial enterprise dressed up as some sort of public forum.
“It seems that the government is now intent on privatising debate on the economy.”
Mr Gilmore said the decision of so many ministers to participate in such an event “at a time when they have refused to allow the Dáil to have a comprehensive debate on the economy suggests a skewed set of priorities”.
The conference website says the roundtable “offers an exclusive chance to explore the key economic issues with government leaders, Irish business executives and experts from the Economist Intelligence Unit”.
It says issues such as the Government’s key policies for tackling global and domestic challenges to the economy and how the Government can work with businesses to attract more foreign investment.
The one-day conference will also explore whether Ireland can “continue to be an international centre for business processing, competing with lower-cost countries such as India”.
How ministers plan to reduce inflation to bring it in line with other European countries is also listed as a topic for discussion.
© 2008 irishtimes.com
www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0926/breaking58.htm
