It’s time for a reality check on our international aid

JUSTIN Kilcullen of Trócaire has severely chastised the Government for “reneging” on its commitment to spend 0.7% of GDP per annum on international aid – a target set by the UN a decade ago.

The Government is spending €535.3 million on this programme in 2010. It spent €422m on development aid in 2002 when our tax revenues were last in the region of €30bn, when the exchequer surplus was €94m and our national debt was €31bn.

The Government has spent more than €5.8bn altogether between 2001 and 2010, so even if we stand indicted in the eyes of some, Irish people have pulled their weight on the delivery of ‘real change’ to the less privileged.