Taoiseach: Aid decline is ‘shameful’

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has described the global reduction in overseas development aid in the last decade as "shameful".

In his speech to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg today, Mr Ahern reiterated his earlier promises to achieve the UN target of giving 0.7% of GNP in overseas aid by 2007.

His pledge comes despite the Government’s recent decision to reduce Ireland’s overseas aid by at least €40m this year due to cutbacks in public spending.

The Taoiseach also said the world’s developed nations must do a lot more to alleviate debt for poorer countries and added that, in principle, Ireland supports the campaign for debt cancellation.