Will Kofi hear the shameful facts?
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern made a solemn declaration at the UN millennium summit in September 2000 that Ireland would reach the UN target of spending 0.7% of our GNP on aid by 2007.
This high-profile declaration, repeated at several subsequent UN summits, encouraged four larger countries - Belgium, Finland, France and Britain - to announce time-bound commitments to the 0.7% target. However, Ireland’s aid has fallen from 0.41% of GNP in 2002 to 0.4% last year. It may fall further to 0.39% this year.
A domino effect is feared, with much larger donors using Ireland’s failing commitment as an excuse also to scale back on their promises.
Ireland’s formerly proud stance on aid is looking more like political grandstanding as the budget date approaches. It earned us our seat on the UN security council and the credibility to punch above our weight internationally. If Kofi Annan, while here, finds that we are not willing to share our rising prosperity with the world’s most vulnerable citizens, will we ever be able to hold our heads high in UN fora again?
The Government has left everyone guessing what its real intentions are with respect to aid. Kofi Annan’s visit should be used as an opportunity to reassert a concrete commitment to aid delivered over the timetable which the Government set out for itself. The OECD’s development assistance committee made two key recommendations in its November 2003 review of Irish aid. Firstly, the Government should deliver a sizeable increase in aid in the 2005 budget in order to put Ireland back on track towards reaching the 0.7% target by 2007.
Secondly, it should reintroduce a multi-annual agreement on budget allocations for overseas development aid.
Trócaire fully supports these recommendations. In order to be effective, aid has to be delivered in sufficient quantity and on a predictable basis.
Ireland received over €34 billion from the EU since 1973 in predictable, multi-annual transfers.
We receive €391 per head of population from our neighbours in the EU and spend €94 per head of population on aid to poor countries.
Even with declining structural funds, in 2006 Ireland’s receipts from the EU will continue to outstrip the aid we give to the world’s poorest people by millions of euro.
Its time to get serious on overseas aid. The new cabinet is in a position to establish a multi-annual agreement on aid which is reachable and affordable. Rising exchequer returns enable us to increase aid. Moral concerns make it imperative.
Justin Kilcullen
Director
Trócaire
Maynooth
Co Kildare
