Greens want new commitment on overseas aid

The Green Party is planning to table a private members' motion in the Dáil this week calling on TDs to support the Make Poverty History campaign.

The party said the move was timed to coincide with the upcoming G8 summit in Edinburgh and the Live 8 concerts taking place throughout the world this weekend.

It said the main thrust of the motion would be a call on the Government to set a new date for meeting its commitment to provide 0.7% of GDP in overseas aid.

While lobbying for a place on the UN Security Council several years ago, the Government pledged to honour the commitment by 2007.

However, it abandoned the promise last year, saying it would not be able to meet the 2007 target date.