Dublin marchTens of thousands of protesters are expected to march through Dublin city-centre this evening as part of the international Make Poverty History campaign. The Irish campaign will call on the Government to meet its pledge to increase overseas aid to 0.7 per cent of GNP within five years.
Organisers privately estimate that up to 20,000 people may attend the rally, which begins at 6.30pm at Parnell Square, and will march to Merrion Square arriving at about 7.15pm.
A number of speeches will then be made before a two-hour concert begins.
The Dublin rally comes two days before a major rally in Edinburgh this weekend, aimed at placing pressure on world leaders to deliver progress on debt cancellation, trade justice and better aid.
Nessa Ní Chasaide of Dóchas, one of the NGOs involved in the campaign, said Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was welcome to attend, but only if he delivered a "credible" plans on overseas aid.
This plan includes meeting the 0.7 per cent of GNP target by 2010, setting out a multi-annual plan to meet this aim and publishing legislation to provide for the allocation of this aid.
Organisers are asking protesters to wear white items of clothing, as they will attempt to form a "white band" across the city-centre during the rally.
The musical line-up at the Dublin rally will include Kíla, Mundy, the Devlins, the Walls and the Hothouse Flowers.
Steve and Joe Wall, of The Walls, said they were delighted to be given the chance to highlight the importance of bringing an end to poverty. Joe Wall said: "If we can waste money in this country on electronic voting equipment and building the National Aquatic Centre, we can surely spend 70 cents out of every €100 earned on aid."