A television documentary on the role of Irish aid in developing countries has provoked an angry row between development workers and the State agency which places them overseas.
APSO (Agency for Personal Service Overseas) yesterday rejected criticisms of its role in development which were made in the documentary - We Still Want You But ... broadcast on RTE last week.
The agency claimed the programme was "unbalanced" and "cast a dim light" on the role of the development workers overseas. APSO says it also failed to highlight the work of Irish volunteers and the regard organisations in the developing world have for their input.
Made to mark the 21st anniversary of Comhlamh, the umbrella group for returned development workers, the documentary examined the widespread unease which exists among many aid staff about their role. Some argued that Irish aid was serving Irish needs rather than those of people in the developing countries. It was also claimed that young, inexperienced volunteers were on occasion sent to developing countries with inadequate preparation.
However, APSO's chief executive, Mr Paul Beggan, rejected these criticisms. "Development workers are highly skilled and motivated individuals and are put through a rigorous recruitment process before being sent overseas," he said.
The provision of development workers was "not the answer to all the problems of the Third World", but it had proved to be "an effective tool". Mr Beggan commended Comhlamh's call for greater solidarity with the developing world, but said this "should not be at the expense of what has been achieved up to now".
"The process of development is difficult and, of course, there have been failures, but also many successes," he remarked.
Esperanza Productions, which made the documentary, stood over the programme as "a fair reflection of the debate which is going on at this time". Its producer/director, Mr Ronan Tynan, commented: "It was made to the highest journalistic standards and included a wide variety of people from the different agencies, including two from APSO itself."
Mr Robin Hanan, co ordinator of Comhlamh, said that the programme was intended as the start of a discussion on best practice rather than as a criticism of development workers.
