Ireland's ability to encourage other countries to increase aid for the Third World has been "diminished" by the Government's decision to cut its own aid figures last year, a report to the Oireachtas has warned, writes Mark Hennessy Political Correspondent
The Government should offer "moral leadership" during its upcoming Presidency of the EU in the first six months of 2004 to fellow EU states to reach the UN target of 0.7 per cent of Gross National Product.
"This, of course, would only be credible if Ireland could demonstrate that it intended to live by its own pledge in this regard," said the report, drafted by the EU Advisory Group on EU Development Co-Operation. The advisory group, which reported to the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs, Fine Gael TD, was chaired by the Irish Congress of Trades' Unions General Secretary, Mr David Beggs.
The others were former Taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald, former Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr David Andrews, retired civil servant Mr Noel Dorr, and President Mary Robinson's special adviser, Ms Bride Rosney.
"Our record is respectable but the departure from the agreed multi-annual commitments towards the 0.7 per cent target has diminished our credibility," the advisory group warned.
"To be credible in this area the Government must recommit and adhere to specific annual increases in our contributions in each of the next four years to 2007," the report added.
The Irish EU Presidency will occur during an exceptionally busy time, including the EU's enlargement, the appointment of new European Commissioners, European Parliament elections and possible talks on a new treaty.
There may well be "marginal enthusiasm" for new development aid ideas, while there is "no point" putting forward ideas if the European Commission "does not have the capacity to accommodate", it said.
Therefore, the Government should concentrate on a few key Third World priorities: HIV/AIDS, the eradication of poverty, better governance and government administration.