222 people gather outside Department of Finance
September 9th, 2009 | Updated September 11th, 2009
This week, Ireland’s aid agencies called on the government to 'get back on track' with its overseas aid promise to reach the 0.7% GDP target by 2012.
Gathering outside the Department of Finance, 222 people representing the €222 million cut from the Irish aid budget this year, declared that, even in difficult economic times, we do care about the poorest people of our world.
This year, the Government has cut overseas aid by €222 million, or 24% of the budget for 2009.
“At a time when the world’s most vulnerable people are already feeling the impact of the financial crisis and the effects of climate change - caused by rich nations – we want to remind the government that Irish people want our long-standing solidarity with the poorest people of our world to continue.
"As a nation, we do not want to see the weakest and most vulnerable suffer disproportionately” said Hans Zomer, Director of Dóchas, the network of Ireland’s aid agencies.
“To target the poorest and most vulnerable who have done least to cause this crisis is a terrible injustice. The government needs to get back on track and keep its promise to the world's poor”, said Zomer.
On September 10th, HeraldAM asked readers in its daily poll if they agreed with the Irish Governments decision to cut overseas aid by €222million in order to help restore public finances. "An overwhelming majority of HeraldAM readers disagree with the cuts."
Related Links:
Should Ireland keep its Aid Promise? - Voxpops from Ireland and South Africa
WeDoCare.ie - official website of the campaign
