Trócaire angry at Govt aid 'U-turn'

Trócaire has criticised the Government’s apparent intention to renege of its promise to spend 0.7% of GNP on overseas aid by 2007.

Junior Minister Tom Kitt signalled that the Government may not honour the promise after figures contained in the Book of Estimates showed that the percentage of GNP going towards development aid would not increase next year.

Trócaire said this was particularly disgraceful as the Government had secured a place on the UN Security Council on the back of guarantees that it would meet the 0.7% target by 2007.