Lenihan urged to apologise for 'insult' to NGOs

OPPOSITION parties and aid agencies yesterday called on Junior Foreign Affairs Minister Conor Lenihan to apologise for suggesting aid agencies use substantial portions of their budgets for lobbying activities.

Mr Lenihan made the remarks in a radio debate on RTÉ yesterday over the Estimates provision for overseas development aid (ODA).

In defending the increases announced by Brian Cowen, Mr Lenihan claimed some non-government organisations (NGOs) that benefit from funding are "spending absolutely a lot of money on advocacy".

His comment was immediately challenged on air by Justin Kilcullen of Trócaire, who described it as an "outrageous allegation".

Later, the Green Party and Sinn Féin separately called on Mr Lenihan to apologise to aid agencies for what was described as "his offensive remarks". Mr Lenihan was debating the provision of an additional €60 million for ODA next year and two additional increases of €65 million during 2006 and 2007. That will represent a contribution of 0.5% of Gross National Product. However, it falls short of the commitment by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern that Ireland would reach a target of 0.7% of GNP by 2007.

Describing the extra allocation as "very generous" in the context of many competing demands, Mr Lenihan said the amount of money NGOs spend on advocacy should also be looked at.

Mr Kilcullen said aid agencies spend a very small percentage of their funding to lobby the Government, the EU and the United Nations on commitments to the developing world.

They included "commitments like reaching our commitment of 0.7%", he said.

John Gormley of the Green Party accused the junior minister of having "lashed out at aid agencies stating that they would be better off spending their money where it mattered rather than spending it on advocacy".

"His remarks are deeply offensive to the many workers and volunteers who work tirelessly for aid agencies in Ireland and across the globe. This was a cheap shot designed to take the spotlight off the Government," he said.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh of Sinn Féin described the remarks as "discourteous, combative and offensive".

In continuing reaction to the allocation to ODA, Labour described it as "a reprehensible U-turn on a commitment given to the world's poorest people".

Last night, Mr Lenihan said he stood over his remarks. "Concern has been expressed to me about the amount spend on advocacy, communications and administration by a lot of charities. That applies to all kinds of charities, not only those associated with the Third World," he said.