Cardinal appeals to state not cut to overseas aid

THE country’s most senior Church figure yesterday directly appealed to the Government not to cut Ireland’s overseas aid to developing countries.

In an open letter to Finance Minister Brian Lenihan, Cardinal Sean Brady said any further reduction in overseas development aid would have a “devastating impact on the lives of some of the world’s poorest peoples”.

The letter from Cardinal Brady, the president of the Irish Episcopal Conference and the Primate of All Ireland, comes amid growing calls from non-governmental organisations for the aid budget to remain in place despite the tumbling economy.