Mary Robinson has added her voice to the disquiet over the Government's decision to trim the overseas aid budget, writes Paul Cullen
In her job as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights over the past five years, Mrs Mary Robinson has had plenty of occasion to wag her finger at misbehaving world leaders.
Yesterday it was the turn of the Government here to get a mild lecture from the former president on its duties to the 80 per cent of "have-nots" in the world.
Mrs Robinson used the opportunity of a visit to the Department of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Iveagh House in Dublin to express concern about the Government's recent decision to cut €32 million from the overseas aid budget.
Ireland's reputation would suffer internationally as a result of the decision to make cutbacks at the expense of assistance to Third World countries, she suggested.
The High Commissioner was speaking at the launch of a new edition of "80/20: Development in an Unequal World", a manual on development and human rights issues designed for teachers and students.
Last month's cut in the overseas aid budget flew in the face of commitments made by Fianna Fáil and the PDs in their election manifestos.
It also means that the Government will fail to meet its promise to increase aid to an interim figure of 0.45 per cent of Gross National Product by the end of the year.
The likelihood of increasing spending to the promised level of 0.7 per cent of GNP by 2007, a target set by the UN over 30 years ago, is also diminishing.
The cut was personally embarrassing for the Taoiseach, who announced the Government's commitment to the UN target before other world leaders attending the UN Millennium Summit in New York in September 2001. Next month Mr Ahern is due to attend the UN Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa.
Last night Mrs Robinson called on the public to "encourage" the Government to adhere to its commitments on aid.
She spoke of her pride in being able to say previously that the Irish Government was committed to the UN target.
"It's still very important that even in times of slightly more hardship for a still prospering Ireland, that why can't we ask the Irish people to tighten the belts a little bit but keep to the development target?
"I cannot tell you how important it would be for Ireland's very good reputation with developing countries. They see us as a true ally."
Ireland should be firm in its political commitments and we should encourage not only Ireland to make the targets but the G8 countries as well, she said.
The Minister of State responsible for overseas aid, Mr Tom Kitt, acknowledged that the aid budget was "somewhat less than anticipated".
However, he promised that the Government's commitment to spending 0.7 per cent of GNP by 2007 would be met. In money terms, this year's budget would still increase by €100 million, the biggest increase in the budget of the aid programme since it was established in the mid-1970s.
"I intend to do my utmost to ensure that the programme continues to grow and to be a source of pride for the people of Ireland and, most importantly, makes a real and sustainable difference in the lives of some of the poorest people in the world," he said.