Madam, - I agree with Liz O'Donnell's criticisms of Conor Lenihan's announcement that the Government would not meet its overseas aid targets (The Irish Times, October 13th).
Mr Lenihan's interpretation of Ireland's commitment to agreed targets as "a declaration of intent" rather than a promise (The Irish Times, October 8th) signals a dismaying reversal in international policy commitments.
Mr Lenihan justifies the reversal by explaining that his "focus would be on the goal rather than on the time frame". Yet time-bound targets are essential to ensuring that the goals become realities. A statement of intent without a promise means Ireland is willing to acknowledge its responsibility as one of the fastest-developing and wealthiest nations in the world, but is unwilling to carry out that responsibility.
The goals are meaningful only if time-frames are set and adhered to, so that intent becomes practice. Ireland had already begun to backslide on its promise in 2002, despite the Taoiseach restating his commitment at the Johannesburg summit in that same year.
I urge Mr Lenihan (and the Department of Finance, since it controls the public purse) to reconsider the need for time-bound targets and for the Government to restore its commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals through a genuine partnership for development, made real through action rather than words. - Yours, etc.,
Dr SU-MING KHOO,
Department of Political
Science and Sociology,
National University of Ireland,
Galway.
Madam, - As we welcome the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, to Ireland the Government has serious questions to answer about its commitment to help the world's poor.
Bertie Ahern made a solemn declaration at the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000 that Ireland would reach the UN target of spending 0.7 per cent of our GNP on aid by 2007.
This declaration, repeated at several subsequent UN summits, encouraged four larger countries (Belgium, Finland, France and the UK) to announce time-bound commitments to the 0.7 per cent target. However, Ireland's aid has fallen from 0.41 per cent of GNP in 2002 to 0.4 per cent last year. It may fall further to 0.39 per cent this year. A domino effect is feared, with much larger donors using Ireland's failing commitment as an excuse to reduce their promises also.
Ireland's formerly proud stance on aid is looking more like political grandstanding as the budget date approaches. It earned us our seat on the Security Council and the credibility to punch above our weight internationally.
If Kofi Annan concludes we are not willing to share our rising prosperity with the world's most vulnerable citizens, will we ever be able to hold our heads high in UN forums again? The Government has left everyone guessing what its real intentions are on aid.
Mr Annan's visit should be used as an opportunity to reassert a concrete commitment to aid delivered according to the timetable the Government set itself.
Ireland has received over €34 billion in transfers from the EU since 1973. We receive €391 per head of Irish population from our neighbours in the EU and spend €94 per head of Irish population on aid to poor countries.
Even with declining structural funds, in 2006 Ireland's receipts from the EU will continue to outstrip the aid we give the world's poorest people by millions of euro.
It is time to get serious on overseas aid. The new Cabinet is in a position to establish a multi-annual agreement on aid which is reachable and affordable. Rising Exchequer returns enable us to increase aid. Moral concerns make it imperative. - Yours, etc.,
JUSTIN KILCULLEN,
Director, Trócaire,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.
Madam, - As chance would have it, Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, arrived in Dublin yesterday for talks with the Government on the United Nations Day for Poverty Eradication. It is dismaying that at such a time our new Minister of State responsible for overseas aid considers it unrealistic for Ireland to fulfil its promise to meet the agreed UN target by 2007.
How much credibility has the Government, and the very democratic political process itself, if solemn commitments made explicitly and publicly to the world in the name of the people of Ireland are to be tossed aside so casually? This is a slap in the face to the United Nations and to one of its most distinguished servants. - Yours, etc.,
Dr BRIAN SCOTT,
Chief Executive,
Oxfam Ireland,
Burgh Quay,
Dublin 1.