ON Thursday representatives of states from around the world will gather to sign an agreement aimed at strengthening the protection of economic, social and cultural rights for individuals.

THE Minister for Overseas Development has appealed to aid agencies to maintain good working relations with his department in the face of severe criticisms over dramatic cuts in funding to help the world’s poor.

Dóchas, the umbrella group representing Ireland's development NGOs, today called on the Government to show leadership and improve our cooperation with the countries worst affected by the global economic crisis.

An Irish Government task force is calling on world leaders to honour commitments they have made on tackling global hunger.

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern last night delivered a stinging rebuke to aid agencies and opposition parties who want him to reverse plans to decentralise the Government’s foreign aid section.

Overseas aid staff who are refusing to decentralise from Dublin to Limerick are not irreplaceable, the Government warned tonight.

An organisation representing Irish aid groups has called on the Government to reconsider its plans to move the offices of its aid programme to Limerick.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was today urged to avoid embarrassment on the world stage by setting a new date of 2010 for honouring Ireland’s promise on overseas aid.

IRISH aid agencies yesterday strongly criticised new EU anti-terror policies linking development assistance with the country’s record on fighting terror.