Taoiseach can tell UN Ireland is honourable

In two weeks’ time, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny will travel to the United Nations in New York, to join other world leaders in a review of the global strategy to tackle the world’s biggest problems.

That strategy was agreed in 2000, and is based on eight goals to be achieved next year, in 2015.

The verdict is that the recipe agreed 14 years ago is working, but rich countries have not kept their side of the bargain.

While enormous progress has been made on the seven ‘Millennium Development Goals’ for which developing countries are responsible, progress on the eighth target, which is the responsibility of the West, has been patchy.

Rich countries have resisted the much-needed reform of the unfair trade rules that keep people locked in poverty, and have failed to deliver the increases in overseas aid.

But it is not too late. Ireland has gained great global influence because of its undeniable commitment to a fairer, more stable world and its willingness to invest in the policies and structures the United Nations are promoting. We do that because we know that as a small, open economy, Ireland depends on its global reputation as a reliable partner and as a people that keeps its promises.

The Taoiseach now has the chance to announce to the world that Ireland intends to honour its commitments to the ‘Millennium Development Goals’ and that we will reverse six years of cuts to the aid budget. Such a decision would not just get our aid programme back on track, it would also help bring about the stable and fairer world that Ireland needs for its prosperity.

Hans Zomer

Director

Dóchas

1-2 Baggot Court

Lr. Baggot Street

Dublin 2