222 people protest at the Department of Finance. 9/9/2009.Photo:Leon Farrell Photocall Ireland.
This week, Ireland’s aid agencies called on the government to ‘get back on track’ with its overseas aid promise to reach the 0.7% GDP target by 2012.
Gathering outside the Department of Finance, 222 people representing the €222 million cut from the Irish aid budget this year, declared that, even in difficult economic times, we do care about the poorest people of our world.
Demonstrators outside the Department of Finance
This year, the Government has cut overseas aid by €222 million, or 24% of the budget for 2009.
“At a time when the world’s most vulnerable people are already feeling the impact of the financial crisis and the effects of climate change – caused by rich nations – we want to remind the government that Irish people want our long-standing solidarity with the poorest people of our world to continue.
“As a nation, we do not want to see the weakest and most vulnerable suffer disproportionately” said Hans Zomer, Director of Dóchas, the network of Ireland’s aid agencies.
“To target the poorest and most vulnerable who have done least to cause this crisis is a terrible injustice. The government needs to get back on track and keep its promise to the world’s poor”, said Zomer.
Photo: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland.