OVERSEAS AID:OPPOSITION PARTIES and aid agencies have strongly criticised the Government's decision to cut Overseas Development Aid by €95 million this year as part of its overall savings plan.
Fine Gael spokesman on foreign affairs Billy Timmins said: “The Government’s cut will hit the poorest in the world, at a time where they are also being hit by the worldwide recession. It is important that Ireland’s commitment to hit 0.7 per cent, which was already reneged on once by Fianna Fáil, is not reneged on again and that the target of 0.7 per cent of GNP by 2012 is met.”
The cut was “disproportionate”, according to Labour’s foreign affairs spokesman Michael D Higgins. “We are making a cut that is half again as great as we are making in every other area of public expenditure.”
Ireland’s overseas aid benefited more than 90 countries in the developing world. “This programme has brought immense credit to Ireland’s international reputation,” Mr Higgins said.
John O’Shea of Goal said that, although Goal had received confirmation of specific funding, he was “disappointed” with the cut.
“We would hope that the Government will not reduce funding to organisations or institutions with a proven track record of reaching the poorest of the poor. Rather, the cuts should fall on African regimes that have failed to deliver and have been guilty of human rights abuses.”
Concern’s Tom Arnold expressed shock and dismay at the move, pointing out that: “This is the third cut in overseas aid in just over six months, following a €45 million cut last July and €15 million in October, and represents total cuts in overseas aid of 17 per cent.”
Trocaire director Justin Kilcullen said he was “extremely disappointed” at the decision.
In a joint statement Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin and Minister of State for Overseas Aid Peter Power said: “We should not overlook the fact that our aid programme remains at a historically high level – €796 million in 2009 compared to €255 million in 2000. Ireland remains the sixth most generous donor internationally in per capita terms.”
Speaking during his visit to the Middle East, Mr Martin expressed regret that the Government had to make the cut, describing it as an “exceptional” move.
Asked if there was a chance that Ireland might fail to make the 2012 target given the gloomy forecast for the next few years, he said: “It’s going to be a significant challenge to make the 2012 deadline but we’re still working towards that.” He said the cut would be spread across Irish Aid.