Trócaire disappointed at G8 outcome

Irish aid agency Trócaire has expressed disappointment with the failure of the G8 leaders to agree a programme for Third World debt relief during their summit in France.

Trócaire spokeswoman Caoimhe de Barra said the summit's French hosts had put forward a proposal that could have helped alleviate suffering in the Third World.

However, the proposal was scuppered by the United States and others.

"France had proposed that there would be a moratorium on agricultural subsidies for products which were being exported to poorer countries and this was to last for the duration of the World Trade Organisation negotiations on agriculture," she said.

"This would have provided an important respite for poor countries which are faced with the dumping of products that wipe out local farmers opportunities to take advantage of any trade, but the US in particular was extremely antagonistic to this proposal."