Cowen flies out for UN poverty meeting

Taoiseach Brian Cowen will travel to New York today to join other international leaders for a high-level United Nations meeting on world poverty.

The talks are to reaffirm commitments to reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

During his visit the Taoiseach will also be joined by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for the launch of the Hunger Task Force report.

It was set up by the Government two years ago to identify how Ireland can best contribute to efforts to alleviate global hunger.

It is chaired by former agriculture minister Joe Walsh and includes Irish and international experts including Jeffrey Sachs and Bono.

During his visit to New York Mr Cowen also expects to meet Bob Geldof and former US president Bill Clinton.

The United Nations high-level meeting marks the half way point of the pledge given in 2000 to halve world poverty by 2015.

A government spokeswoman said: “At the invitation of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, world leaders will take stock of achievements made, acknowledge what remains to be done and re-energise their commitments to meeting the MDGs.”