Government ‘still aiming to hit Third World aid target’

THE Government is still committed to meeting its target of substantially increasing aid for the Third World, Health Minister Mary Harney said yesterday.

Junior Minister for Foreign Affairs, Conor Lenihan, has said the Government will not be able to dedicate 0.7% of GNP to overseas development aid by 2007.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern promised to meet this target at the UN Millennium Summit in 2000 but the Government has fallen behind in delivering on the commitment, especially after cutting €40 million from the budget after the 2002 general election.