Aid targetsThe Government has breached a "solemn" promise to the Third World by failing to meet UN aid targets by 2007, former Progressive Democrat minister of state Liz O'Donnell has declared.
Her declaration in the Dáil came before tonight's Make Poverty History march in Dublin, when thousands are expected to march in support of greater help for the Third World.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern promised the UN Millennium Summit in New York in 2000 that Ireland would spend €7 of every €1,000 of national income on aid by 2007.
Ms O'Donnell warned that Ireland's "credibility and integrity" were at risk. "This was no ordinary policy initiative made on the hoof, or spun by way of a press release. Extensive pre-Cabinet negotiations, preparations and arguments were involved over a protracted period," said the Dublin South TD.
Having stood beside Mr Ahern in New York, she said she felt "a particular responsibility and personal disappointment" that the aid target was dropped "for reasons never properly explained".
"Certainty was removed and our intentions were left open-ended. Worse still, there has been a slow unravelling of the principle of reaching the UN. This doubt will persist amongst our citizens and in this House until a new date has been set," said Ms O'Donnell, who served as minister in charge of overseas aid between 1997 and 2002.
In her full speech, which was not read into the Dáil record, she said: "Our dynamic economy makes possible an earlier date of 2010 and that is what we must aim for. But to show good faith and credibility on this, we must frontload the increases." But her intervention puts her at odds with the Cabinet, which is now debating whether the State should now bid to reach the UN target by 2012, or 2015.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern is pushing for 2012, though Department of Finance officials want Ireland to reach it by the later date - one set as the target for richer EU countries at the recent Brussels summit.
So far, Minister for Finance Brian Cowen has stayed out of the negotiations between officials, though it is understood he wants guarantees that the money will be spent properly.
The Cabinet now intends to announce a new aid target before the Taoiseach travels to New York in mid-September for the five-year review of the goals set at the Millennium Summit.
The Make Poverty History rally begins in Parnell Square at 6.30pm, before moving on to Merrion Square through O'Connell Street, D'Olier Street, Nassau Street, Kildare Street and St Stephen's Green.
In Belfast yesterday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs said he agreed with the views of Goal founder John O'Shea that aid must be "spent wisely and properly and does not go to corrupt regimes.
"Ireland has been to the fore in ensuring that in our aid and in other countries' aid, particularly at EU level, that a proportion of the funding will go to good governance," he said.
"The Republic of Ireland is the ninth largest donor of aid in the world. It gives twice the average that the G8 gives which is 0.21 per cent of gross national product.
"Ireland gives 0.41 per cent [of GNP] at the moment. We don't tie our aid, unlike other countries, to trade. We don't deal in Africa in arms. Over the next three years we will be giving €1.8 billion in untied aid mainly to sub-Saharan Africa.
"Not only the OECD but leading NGOs have said that Ireland is the paragon in relation to the quality of the delivery of their aid to the poor of the world.
Criticising U2 fans who booed the Taoiseach at last weekend's Croke Park concerts, Mr Ahern said: ". . . To be honest it is a cheap shot against somebody. . . who has led a Government that in the history of our State has delivered more and the biggest increases in ODA funding," he said.