Madam, - The statement by Conor Lenihan reneging on the Government's promise to raise aid spending to 0.7 per cent of GNP by 2007 is bitterly disappointing.
The historic decision announced at the UN Millennium Summit in New York by the Taoiseach that Ireland would reach the UN target by 2007 was a matter of great moral pride. It was much more than just "a declaration of intent", as Mr Lenihan called it (The Irish Times, October 8th).
Tackling the AIDS crisis that is crippling the heart of Africa is a stated foreign policy objective. How does the Government propose to do this by reducing foreign aid as a percentage of GNP? Mr Lenihan's predecessor, Liz O'Donnell, has openly criticised him for his apparent policy U-turn. The Minister's response was that "at the end of the day we have to live in the real world, not the imaginary world".
The 1.2 billion people living on less than $1 a day know all about the "real" world. Let us not go back on what we repeatedly promised the world's poorest people. Instead let us keep our pledge and set a good moral standard for other countries. - Yours, etc.,
EDWINA DEWART, Albert College Avenue, Glasnevin.
A chara, - Could Mr Conor Lenihan please tell us how rich we have to get before committing 0.7 per cent of our income to help the sick and the hungry? - Is mise,
CIARÁN MACAONGHUSA, Nice, An Fhrainc.