Madam, - I agree with David Adams's call for greater public debate on Irish development aid, even if he does so on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations that "Irish taxpayers' money is finding its way into the coffers of various dictators, despots and serial human rights abusers" (Opinion, December 7th).
He believes that Ireland can, and must, "bypass" corrupt middlemen, and in effect take control of the development processes in African countries. The implication is that Africans cannot be trusted with their own affairs, and that it takes Irish efficiency to sort the place out. African governments, it would seem, are all corrupt, and the only people to trust with decision-making are "project managers" appointed by the Irish Government.
This line of thinking completely forgets that development is not merely a matter of delivering aid projects and putting in place infrastructure. Would Ireland have been able to use the billions we received from the European Union better if our development had been administered by EU-appointed project managers, rather than by our own Government? Similarly, rather than bypassing African governments, it is essential that systems of control and governance are further developed and strengthened in the Irish Aid partner countries.
Mr Adams is correct: we do need greater public scrutiny and greater public debate in Ireland about the use of Irish development aid.
The 37 member-organisations of Dóchas are concerned that
the growing aid budget be accounted for in the best possible way,
and that the aid has maximum benefit for the poorest of the poor.
In the context of the on-going management review of Irish Aid,
Dóchas has called on the Government to develop a coherent plan
of action to enhance accountability, encompassing public
information, development education, parliamentary oversight,
independent evaluation, and impact and result measurement. Active
media scrutiny is a vital element of such a plan. Another key
ingredient is factual accuracy in the media, not sweeping
statements and prejudices about a whole continent being corrupt. -
Yours, etc,
HANS ZOMER,
Director, Dóchas,
Harcourt Street,
Dublin 2.