GOAL Statement

Media Statement, 8th July 2008

GOAL CEO John O’Shea said that the decision to cut overseas development aid by €45 million was morally indefensible, and depending on where the cut is made, it could result in many thousands of lives being lost unnecessarily.

“It reflects an appalling attitude on the part of our Government to those who struggle for survival.

“Today millions of desperately poor people face death from starvation, in such places as Ethiopia, Burma and Darfur. The reality is that an implementing agency such as GOAL works at the coalface of poverty, and literally is the difference between life and death for thousands of vulnerable people, who strive to survive on a daily basis.

“If the Government is worried about value for money, then it is imperative that the Government ceases funding African Governments bi-laterally. If money must be taken away, then is should be taken from the grasps of brutal and corrupt regimes and not from implementing NGO’s and Missionaries with a proven record of delivering aid to the poorest of the poor.

When this country had little, it gave so much – and won an unrivalled reputation in the Third World. Now that we have so much, we seem to want to take from the poor, who are in such desperate need”.

For more information contact John O’Shea on 086 8527427