The Catholic development agency Trócaire yesterday launched a briefing paper on international aid for the Government as Ireland prepares to take the EU presidency in January.
Called Seven Steps towards The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the paper proposed steps the Government should take to act as a catalyst for EU action to reach the millennium development goals agreed at the UN in 2000.
Trócaire proposed that a timetable of annual incremental increases for reaching the promised aid of 0.7 per cent of Ireland's GNP be published; that the Government would ensure the new EU constitutional treaty upholds coherence with poverty eradication; and that it use its influence as president to assess the impact of CAP reforms on poverty reduction and food security in developing countries.
In September 2000, Ireland was one of 189 countries which committed themselves at the UN to halving poverty, providing universal primary education and to reversing the spread of HIV/AIDs, all by 2015.
Trócaire's director Mr Justin Kilcullen said that "unprecedented changes", such as EU enlargement, would be undertaken during Ireland's time as EU president, and major events such as these would determine and dominate the agenda.
" However, this is an opportunity for Ireland to rise above the day-to-day role the presidency has previously taken and set itself apart, to push forward, focus and turn the commitments Europe has already made to meeting the millennium development goals into reality."
Over the next six months the Government will work with Greece (EU president until last Monday) and Italy (current EU president) to establish its priorities for the Irish presidency.