McKenna lashes Govt for failure on overseas aid

international | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Saturday May 05, 2007 19:16 by Dorothy Gale

– Famine commemoration should be a springboard for rapidly increased aid

Green Party candidate for Dublin Central Patricia McKenna said that
Ireland had an opportunity to play a leadership role in the fight against
the continuing scandal of hunger in the world. She said it was a disgrace
that the world's poorest had to wait until 2015 for the Irish government
to meet its UN commitment on overseas aid.

McKenna said: "Ireland's history of famine in the 19th century, coupled
with our more recent experiences of poverty and emigration, give us
legitimacy in providing leadership on foreign aid. But Fianna Fail and the
PDs have proven themselves unable to provide that leadership. The last two
governments have shamefully reneged on their aid commitments."

McKenna was commenting as the government announced today that it will
recognise and fund a commemoration of Ireland's Great Famine.

"I am glad to hear that the government is recognising the commemoration of
our own famine," she said, "And I congratulate those who worked for years
on this issue. However, the commitment rings hollow when you look at the
government's delay in meeting the UN target of 0.7% of GNI for overseas
aid."

The Taoiseach told a UN summit in September 2005 that Ireland would meet
its 0.7 per cent commitment by 2015.

"About 850 million people go to bed hungry every night – that's about 15
per cent of the world's population. Some 11 million children under five
die each year from hunger and associated diseases. Hunger affects millions
more both physically and mentally," McKenna continued. "Is it reasonable
that we, as one of the wealthiest countries in the world, ask those
millions to stay hungry until 2015?"