No aid date agreed to hit GNP target

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday declined to give UN Secretary General Kofi Annan any guarantee that Ireland’s overseas aid commitment will reach 0.7% of GNP by 2007.

Instead, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern only gave a commitment to reach the 0.7% level without any reference to when the goal would actually be met.

“As part of Ireland’s role in the creation of a more effective UN, I want to stress today that Ireland will meet the UN’s 0.7% GNP overseas development aid target,” he said.

However, he stopped short of recommitting the Government to its original promise of meeting the goal by 2007 - a commitment first made by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at the UN general assembly in 2000.

Urging Ireland and other EU members to meet the UN-set goal by 2007, Mr Annan said it would send an important message to other countries if Ireland was prepared to make a firm commitment to the 0.7% goal.

“I hope governments will honour their commitments because it will make a difference in the lives of millions of people,” he said.

Addressing yesterday’s forum, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny called on Mr Ahern to set a time limit for the goal while MEP Gay Mitchell called on the Government to legislate for the donation of overseas aid.

Progressive Democrat Liz O’Donnell said she was glad to hear the Government recommit to the 0.7% goal.