Ahern sets 2012 as new target date for aid commitments

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has set 2012 as the new target date for Ireland's allocating 0.7% of its GNP to overseas aid.

Mr Ahern announced the new date during a speech to the UN summit of world leaders in New York last night.

In another speech to the UN five years ago, Mr Ahern promised to spend 0.7% of GNP on aid by 2007, a move that helped Ireland secure a place on the UN Security Council.

However, there was widespread condemnation when he reneged on this promise last year, claiming economic circumstances had changed.

Trócaire and Concern have welcomed the Taoiseach’s new commitment, despite the fact that they were pressing a target date of 2010.