O'Donnell commits to more UN development aid

Ireland has been ranked in the top 15 countries which donate to UN development and humanitarian programmes.

Speaking after a meeting with UN officials in New York, Minister of State Liz O'Donnell said support for aid agencies is increasingly central to Ireland's foreign policy.

She said Ireland is pledging €8.9bn to UN development this year, an increase of nearly 45% on the figure for 2001.