10th October 2004

PRESS RELEASE

Green Slam Government on Development Aid Targets

The Green Party has accused the Government of making a U-turn on development aid. Ciarán Cuffe TD, the Green Party’s Justice Spokesperson described the Government’s back-tracking as a sickening blow to the Developing World.

Yesterday the Junior Minister with responsibility for overseas aid Mr. Conor Lenihan TD was reported as stating that the Government would not meet its own target of increasing aid to UN recommended levels by 2007.  Mt. Lenihan described the Taoiseach’s previous commitment as a “declaration of intent” rather than a promise. However Bertie Ahern gave a speech at the conclusion of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannsburg on the 3rd September 2002 in which he stated:

“Significantly increased Overseas Development Assistance is essential to meet our Goals. The decline in global ODA in the 1990s is shameful, indefensible and inconsistent with the commitments given at Rio. I re-iterate Ireland's absolute commitment to achieving, by 2007, the UN target of spending 0.7% of GNP on Overseas Development Assistance.”

http://www.un.org/events/wssd/statements/irelandE.htm

Mr. Cuffe stated: “Ireland should be a beacon of hope rather than trail the field in development aid. Given our unprecedented economic growth over the last ten years we have a moral responsibility to reach out and assist developing countries. It is sickening that our Government is now backtracking furiously on this goal.”

Mr. Cuffe intends raising the issue through requesting an Adjournment Debate in the Dáil next Tuesday.