A sack full of postcards was delivered to Government Buildings today calling on the Coalition not to cut overseas aid in the upcoming Budget.
Ireland’s leading aid agencies joined forces to appeal to the Government to remember those in the developing world struggling to stay alive.
Concern’s Derek McDowell said the overseas aid budget has being cut by about a quarter over the last year.
“I think people do appreciate that as difficult as things are in Ireland, they are infinitely more difficult in the developing world,” said the charity’s head of advocacy. “Where as we are losing our jobs, there are people there at risk of losing their lives.
“Irish people have a long tradition of contributing to charity and have solidarity with the developing work.
“I hope and believe that will continue and will be reflected in Government policy.”
Concern, Trocaire, Worldvision, Oxfam and Voluntary Service International (VSI) came together to demand the Government gets back on track towards it 2012 target of giving 0.7 per cent of national income.
Mr McDowell, a former Labour TD and Senator in Dublin North Central, said he understood how hard it was for Government to balance the books.
“It is a difficult time and there have to be cuts, the numbers just don’t stack up in terms of the national budget,” he said.
“But people’s lives depend on the overseas funding. It’s been one of the real achievements over the last 10 to 15 years. Ireland now is carrying its weight, is contributing hugely to development to the developing world and it’s something we shouldn’t throw away lightly.”
PA