Justice Commission 'disappointed' by broken aid promises

The Government’s failure to honour its commitment on overseas aid is “deeply disappointing”, the newly formed Irish Commission for Justice and Social Affairs said today.

The Commission, created by a reorganisation of the work of the Irish Bishops’ Conference, called on the Government to commit 0.7% of Gross National Income to foreign development aid by 2007.

It said the Government’s failure to do so was deeply disappointing and threatened to significantly undermine Ireland’s “credibility as a nation that has traditionally prided itself in espousing the Christian ideal of solidarity”.

The Commission welcomed the forthcoming Government White Paper on development co-operation and called for the reinstatement of a binding timetable for Ireland to meet its commitments.

The Irish Commission on Justice and Social Affairs (ICJSA), formed by the merger of the Irish Commission for Peace and Justice and the Council for Social Welfare, was launched today by the Archbishops of Dublin and Armagh in Maynooth, Co Kildare.

The ICJSA is chaired by Bishop Raymond Field and its role is to support the Bishops’ Conference in promoting the social teaching of the Catholic Church and advising on issues of social concern both nationally and internationally.

Launching the Commission, Archbishop of Armagh Sean Brady said the Catholic Church in Ireland had a “very proud record” of involvement in the field of social concern.

“The work of organisations such as St. Vincent de Paul, the Legion of Mary, the various agencies and Commissions of the Bishops’ Conference, CORI and the host of parish and diocesan based groups and agencies around the country, provide a unique and very practical expression of the Church’s commitment to the social, political and pastoral consequences of the Gospel,” he said.

“I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the untiring and selfless sea of people, of all ages and backgrounds, who support this work.

“Without their generosity and commitment, a central part of the evangelising mission of the Church would be lost and the culture of care in Irish society greatly diminished,” he said.

The Compendium of Social Doctrine of the Church was also presented today at St Patrick’s College, by Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin.

The Archbishop said the compendium was a guide to help Christian lay people in their lives and addressed questions surrounding politics and promoting peace and the environment as well as globalisation and family, work and economic life.

“The compendium becomes a theological reading of the signs of the times,” he said.

Dr Martin said the compendium was not a “handbook of ready-made answers” nor a “political manifesto”, but should guide the formation of the consciences of Christians, particularly lay people.