Broken promise to world’s poor
At the UN millennium summit in New York in 2000 the Taoiseach announced, on behalf of the Irish people, the Government decision to spend 0.7% of GNP on aid by 2007.
That commitment was warmly welcomed internationally and helped rally support among other rich countries for the millennium development goals, which aim to halve world poverty by 2015.
Following Ireland's lead, a further five countries gave a date for achievement of this UN target of 0.7%.
We are dismayed, therefore, that the Government has now declared that it will not meet the 0.7% UN target by 2007.
In September of next year, all countries will be held to account for their contributions to achieving the millennium development goals at the reconvened UN summit.
We are gravely concerned that Ireland's broken promise will precipitate a reversal of commitments by other rich nations and do profound damage to Ireland's international reputation.
We urge the Government to use budget day, which is also world aids day (December 1) to name a target date and outline how we will reach that date.
We made our commitment; we must keep our word.
Robin Eames, Primate of All Ireland
Eric Conroy, General Secretary, Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed
Deirdre Carroll, General Secretary, NAMHI National Association for People with an Intellectual Disability
Mary Cunningham, Director, National Youth Council of Ireland
Liam Doran, General Secretary, Irish Nurses Organisation
John Neill, Archbishop of Dublin
Robin Hanan, Co-ordinator, European Anti-Poverty Network, Ireland
Very Rev Desmond Harman, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral
Fr Sean Healy, CORI Justice Commission
Kenneth Kearon, Director, Irish School of Ecumenics, TCD
Mary Keogh, Director, Forum of People with Disabilities
Bishop John Kirby, Clonfert Diocese
Prof Brigid Laffan, Dublin European Institute, UCD
Mary Lawlor, Director, Front Line
Prof Enda McDonagh, NUI Maynooth
Peter McLoone, General Secretary, IMPACT
Right Rev Kenneth Newell, Moderator, General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Jack O'Connor, General President, SIPTU
Peter O'Mahony, CEO, Irish Refugee Council
Brian O'Reilly, National President, Society of St Vincent de Paul
Sean Regan, National Coordinator, Community Workers' Co-operative
Prof William Schabas, Director, Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway
John White, Acting General Secretary, ASTI
