Trio in aid appeal to Ahern

BONO, Bob Geldof and Mary Robinson urgently appealed directly to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern last night to live up to his promise on substantially increasing aid for the Third World by 2007.

Ahead of the Taoiseach’s meeting with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan at Farmleigh House today, the three development aid campaigners wrote to Mr Ahern to say Ireland must deliver on the commitment to dedicate 0.7% of Gross National Product to overseas aid.

Describing the Government’s commitment to the world’s poor as commendable, the U2 frontman, the Live Aid organiser and the former president said Ireland’s move in 2000 to meet the UN target was crucial.