Madam, – Your interview with Martin Naughton (Business This Week, December 3rd) shows he is a very successful and generous business man. However, I think he is wrong when he suggests that our international aid to low-income countries should be eliminated.
Such a suggestion neither does him, nor our nation, credit. His focus on the need to “rebuild the economy” is understandable, but increasingly we are recognising that the more fundamental need is to build a more just, equal and caring society, and that this can and should be supported by a good economy.
In the past month I had the opportunity to view our problems from Nigeria, Malawi and South Africa. Variously, we are seen as “good people” misled by (take your pick) roguish/greedy/ incompetent/corrupt politicians/ bankers/developers. But we are still seen as compassionate, empathetic and sometimes even charming humanitarians.
Irish aid has an enviable reputation for being good at doing good. Eliminating our international aid would undoubtedly result in the death of tens of thousands, and the enormous suffering of many more. The Science Gallery, which Martin Naughton has so generously funded, should consider an exhibition on the theme of “Humanity in Adversity”. How we respond to the current situation, is who we are. – Yours, etc,