The Irish Government has made a commitment to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people – to spend 0.7% of our national income on overseas aid by 2012. That’s just 70cent in every €100 by 2012.
Despite this promise, Ireland’s overseas aid budget has been cut by €222 million, a cut of 24%. We are now in real danger of breaking our promise.
These cuts drastically affect the lives and livelihoods of many vulnerable people around the world and the cuts are already having an impact.
Even in these difficult times, we don’t care any less about people living in poverty around the world. We must honour our commitment to reach 0.7% by 2012.
