Oxfam calls on Government to fulfil its promises on aid

THE international aid organisation Oxfam has hit out at the Government’s decision to slash overseas aid and for its continuing failure to fulfil promises to increase assistance to poorer nations.

Oxfam called on the Government to increase overseas aid in December’s budget and to set out a national timetable, with annual targets, to achieve its aid promise of 0.7% of GNP by 2015 at the latest.

The organisation also wants Ireland’s target to be put on a statutory footing. In 2009, the Government’s aid budget was cut by €225 million, or 24%.