Letter to the Editor, Irish Independent, 16th September

It's time that the Government of this country in simple language explained its double standards in relation to its aid policy and corruption in foreign states.

In recent weeks the European Union has released two scathing reports about high level corruption in Bulgaria, the harshest criticism ever levelled by Brussels at a member state. As a result of these reports almost EUR500m of aid funds have been suspended and the accreditation of two stale agencies withdrawn.

Yet the EU has an entirely different attitude towards funding corruption in Africa. Ireland shares this view, openly routing aid through some of the most corrupt regimes in the world, claiming to be following the lead of our European counterparts.

The only discernible difference is that some of the countries we support with aid flows are in Europe, and some in Africa. Are we to understand that funding corruption on one continent supports development while on another it does not?

This is an irreconcilable situation. The Irish people are entitled to a explanation as to why the Government is happy to channel aid through corrupt governments in ifrica but considers it wrong to do likewise in Europe.

JOHN O'SHEA