Cutting overseas aid would not solve our money woes

I could not disagree more with the letter (Foreign aid should be stopped immediately, May 28).

Ireland is spending less than 50 cent on foreign aid in every €100 of income. To imply that if Ireland cut foreign aid our country would not suffer from ‘financial meltdown, suicide, marriage breakup and eviction’ is farcical and naive.

Irish people are generous givers to charities. In a survey conducted by Dochas, the umbrella body for Irish NGOs, 8 out of 10 Irish people said that overseas aid, and support for developing countries, was important. They said Ireland should be proud of its reputation for having one of the best overseas-aid programmes.

Our overseas aid programme, and the work of our NGOs, are regularly praised as of the highest standard, for having a hugely positive impact, and for being monitored closely to ensure value for money, transparency and accountability.

I would argue that the letter writer is in the minority and the result of his proposed referendum would not be as he predicts.

Joanne McGarry

Inchicore

Dublin 8