Government accused of 'broken promises' on aid

The main Opposition parties will highlight what they say is the Government's broken promises on overseas aid in a joint motion in the Dáil next week.

Fine Gael, Labour and the Green Party say the Government is failing to honour its commitment to give 0.7 per cent of GNP to overseas development aid annually by 2007.

Fine Gael's foreign affairs spokesman, Mr Bernard Allen said: "The overseas development aid commitment was made by the Taoiseach before the international community in September 2000, and was restated on many occasions since then."

"This commitment is vital in giving assistance to the world's poorest, and must not be reneged upon."

Mr Allen said he believed legislation was needed to place an obligation on the Government to allocate 0.7 per cent of GNP from the Exchequer towards overseas development aid annually.

Labour's Mr Michael D.Higgins said: "The United Nations Millennium Development Goals, agreed in September 2000, aim to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger throughout the world, extend education, reduce child mortality, and combat HIV/AIDS."

"Ireland's contribution to overseas development aid is vital to the effort to tackle these global problems. When billions live in severe poverty, without access to food, healthcare, clean water, or education, how can this Government now turn its back on overseas aid promises?" he asked.

Mr John Gormley of the Green Party said: "Overseas aid is the most effective way in which the Irish people, through their Government, can help people who need our help most. This commitment was entered into with the full agreement of both Government parties, and was even restated in recent meetings with the Secretary General of the United Nations."

"It is unthinkable that this commitment should now be casually dropped," he said.

The parties plan to propose a joint motion calling on the Government to honour its commitment on aid and to introduce legislation to place a statutory obligation on the Government to allocate a sum of 0.7 per cent of GNP from the Exchequer annually.