The aid agency Oxfam has expressed disappointment with the Government's latest target date for honouring its commitments on overseas aid.

The Government’s pledge to spend 0.7% of GNP on overseas aid by 2012 has proved people power works, Irish aid agencies claimed today.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has set 2012 as the new target date for Ireland's allocating 0.7% of its GNP to overseas aid.