Aid commitments - We can, and should, be giving more

Whether the Taoiseach decides to go to the country in February or leave it until later in spring, there can be little doubt that the general election campaign has already begun, what with the number of public announcements and promises being made by the major political parties.

So far, the main focus for most of them — including the Government parties — lies in imparting good news. Yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan and his junior minister, Seán Sherlock, did so with gusto regarding Ireland’s foreign humanitarian aid programme.

They announced that Ireland is providing €11.75m in humanitarian assistance through the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund to strengthen the UN’s response to the unprecedented level of humanitarian crisis worldwide.