Criticism by TDs of the involvement of rock stars in world poverty issues was rejected last night by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Conor Lenihan.
Tony Gregory (Independent, Dublin Central) and Joe Higgins (Socialist Party, Dublin West) also criticised the Government's record on overseas development aid.
Mr Gregory said: "I am not particularly interested in the posing of mega-rich rock stars telling us what we should do with the tax we pay when they themselves do not pay their own fair share of tax for anything, whether it be for our hospitals or aid to Africa.
"Nonetheless Ireland must honour the commitment of 0.7 per cent and not just at some time sooner than 2015, as Minister Ahern put it this morning."
Mr Higgins said people wanted to see poverty made history.
"But that will not be achieved by well-meaning millionaire rock stars and artistes cooing to the alleged gentler side of international establishment politicians, who are in fact the main spear carriers for the major multinational corporations who rob those poor countries with trade agreements and other means just as brutally as their forebears did with cannon balls and sailing ships ..."
Mr Lenihan said references had been made to Bono and Bob Geldof. "I do not share those sentiments."
