Ireland makes €7m aid donation

An overall 2005 contribution of €7 million from the Department of Agriculture and Food to the United Nations World Food Programme was announced yesterday by Food Minister Brendan Smith.

He said the donation, announced during a visit to Ireland by WFP executive director James Morris, represents the Department’s highest ever donation, an increase of 20% on the 2004 payment.

Ireland’s support for the WFP is provided both by the Department of Agriculture and Food, whose contributions are given in cash and are not directed to any particular country, and by the Department of Foreign Affairs.