The Catholic relief agency Trócaire has said it understands the Government is considering further deferring to 2015 its target date for reaching spending of 0.7 per cent of GNP on overseas aid.
Last December the Government broke its initial promise to reach the target by 2007, a promise made by the Taoiseach at the UN in 2000. Recently Minister for Overseas Development Conor Lenihan indicated a new date of 2012 might be agreed.
At a meeting recently - just over a month before the G8 summit in Scotland, which will focus on African development - EU states agreed to a new collective target of 0.56 per cent of GNI (Gross National Income) on overseas aid spending by 2010.
It was seen as a step towards reaching an aid target of 0.7 per cent by 2015. The Irish Government is expected to announce its new target date by mid-June.
In a statement Trócaire said the recent EU agreement would allow the Government to shift back once again its planned target date for meeting its commitment. The agency called on the Government to commit itself publicly to delivering the aid by 2010 and to safeguard that promise through legislation.
Trócaire director Justin Kilcullen said: "In this year when the focus of the global community is on African development the Government should put its money where its mouth is and keep its word".
