Andrews defends Goal as Irish Aid withholds nearly €3m

Goal chief executive Barry Andrews has defended the aid agency after it emerged that the Department of Foreign Affairs is withholding almost €3m in funding from the charity.

The Department of Foreign Affairs made the decision because Goal is under investigation by another funder, USAID (US agency for international development).

Last April, Goal and other charities were ordered to halt procurement using some US funds because USAID had started an investigation into alleged bribery and bid-rigging.