Ahern pledges increase in Irish overseas aid when in government

FIANNA Fail has pledged itself for the first time to a specific increase in Ireland's overseas development aid if it is returned to government in the next election.

The party aims to increase aid to 0.45 per cent of gross national product (GNP), or about £177 million a year on current figures, the party leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, told a seminar on human rights in Dublin yesterday.

Mr Ahern's promise has been welcomed by many in the nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), who had expressed fears privately that aid spending could be cut back under a Fianna Fail government, particularly if the party was in coalition with the Progressive Democrats.

"This is good news for development, but we would like to see specific yearly targets for aid spending spelled out in any future programme for government," said Mr Eamonn Meehan of Trocaire.

Since 1991, Irish aid has trebled to £122 million, or 0.31 per cent of GNP. However, our commitment still falls short of the UN goal of 0.7 per cent of GNR.

Mr Ahern described his party's target as "a realistic rate of progress" which would allow Ireland to build up its development programmes "on solid foundations".

He told NGO representatives attending the seminar that Fianna Fail believed in an "active and practical vindication" of human rights throughout the world. There was a need for greater co operation between UN agencies and more spending on human rights within the UN budget.

Referring specifically to human rights abuses in Tibet, East Timor and parts of Africa and South America, Mr Ahern said Ireland, through its peace keeping duties under the blue beret of the UN, must continue to protect the human rights of "countless defenceless and innocent people throughout the world".

The party's foreign affairs spokesman, Mr Ray Burke, said Fianna Fail would establish a joint standing committee involving government departments and NGO representatives to co ordinate foreign policy. A second committee would also be established to co ordinate the foreign affairs activities of various Government departments.

The seminar heard strong criticism of the EU's human rights policies. Mr Tom Hyland, of the East Timor Solidarity Campaign said the major power brokers in the EU showed "no concern" for human rights unless their business interests called for it. The European Parliament passed motions on the arms trade but these were never taken up by the Council of Ministers.

Mr Colm Roddy, of Comhlamh described the increase in aid as "Ireland putting finally its money where its mouth is". However he pointed out, the developed countries get back nine times the amount they invest in aid through trade and other means.