Letter to the Editor, Irish Times, 11th February 2009

Madam,

The Government's decision significantly to reduce the overseas aid budget for the current year is a worrying development.

Even more important than the size of the cut (EUR95 million), is the fact that our Government, which has often boasted about its commitment to the poorest on the planet, intends reneging on a sacred promise.

The present economic downturn is causing havoc across virtually every sector of Irish life. This, presumably, has led the Government to feel entitled to ask the poor and vulnerable of the third world to take further punishment. One can at least understand the motivation, while profoundly disagreeing with it.

My colleagues and I in Goal appeal to the Government not to reduce the emergency budget by a single euro. Rather, the EUR95 million saving should be found in areas where the reduction would have no impact on those who need our help most.

In the year ahead, the poorest nations will again be visited by natural disasters; that much is certain. Certain too, given the severity of the global downturn, is that the response of the international community to the plight of the stricken will be greatly reduced.

It is imperative that the Irish Government retains sufficient funds to be made available in the event of future human catastrophes to Irish NGOs, which have a proven record of achieving results. – Yours, etc,

JOHN O'SHEA, CEO, Goal, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.