Let’s Get Ireland Back On Track

In the first half of 2009, the Irish Government cut this year’s budget for official development assistance (“ODA”) by €195 million, or 21.8%. This comes on top of two other cuts in the second half of 2008. The cuts have resulted in the cancellation of vital programmes in the developing world. They are enormously damaging to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. They also threaten the jobs of Irish aid workers and their partners overseas.  

Please contact orla@comhlamh.org for more information about how YOU can get involved to help get Ireland Back on Track and bring pressure on the government to keep its promise to the developing world.

Below see our previous press release on the issue.

Returned Development Workers shocked by callous budget cuts to overseas development aid

7 April 2009 

Comhlámh (the Irish Association for Returned Development Workers), today expressed its disappointment and anger at the government’s decision to once again cut the budget of Ireland’s overseas aid programme. Today’s announcement means there has been a cut of 21.8% of the total project Irish Aid budget in the past year, a cut which is far greater than those inflicted in other areas of expenditure.

Deirdre Murray, the Director of Comhlámh, who herself spent years working in Ethiopia on Irish Aid funded projects  said “We are deeply disappointed that the government is not honouring its promise to protect the most vulnerable from the impact of the financial crisis and the resultant budget cuts. The people in developing countries who benefit from our aid did nothing to bring about the financial crisis, and yet they will be the most deeply affected by it”.

Irish workers who have worked overseas in developing countries are shocked at the government’s decision to go for the “soft target” by cutting the aid budget once again. “This latest cut in overseas development aid is disastrous. The government has turned its back on its commitment to the world’s poor. While we in Ireland are experiencing economic hardship, the people suffering the most are those in extreme poverty in developing countries. That’s where the global recession is impacting in the most devastating and disproportionate way”, says Niall Rooney, who has recently returned from volunteering in Cambodia.

The global economic crisis which began in the credit fuelled ‘boom and bust’ rich economies like Europe and the US, is now tipping many vulnerable people and communities in developing countries into even deeper poverty.  “Overseas aid is for the long-term, not just the good times. It plays a critical role in reducing global poverty, reviving the world economy and tackling climate change”, adds Rooney.

Orla McCarthy, who served as a teacher trainer with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) in Ethiopia, feels the government is making a callous mistake in overlooking how the provision of overseas aid works in Ireland’s best interests and contributes to Ireland’s positive image internationally. “For teachers like me who have worked overseas our aid programme is our calling card to the world and to future generations. It is tangible proof that we keep our word. We have received overwhelming praise internationally for our aid programme. Today’s cuts are tantamount to breaking our promise to the world’s poorest people.” 

Returned missionary workers are also dismayed at today’s announcement. Ireland’s long tradition of generosity going back many decades is something that missionary workers like Dominican Sister Padraigin McKenna were justifiably proud to be part of. Sr. McKenna worked with some of the poorest communities in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for over 14 years, returning to Ireland just two years ago. “Whilst the situation in Ireland across many of our most vulnerable communities is very difficult at the moment, it does not compare with the poverty levels in developing countries”.

Deirdre Murray believes that Ireland’s overseas aid makes a real difference in the lives of those who receive it. “During my six year’s working in Ethiopia, I saw the value of Irish Aid programmes and the real positive difference they make in the lives of poor people. Ireland has a rich history of being generous even in times of economic difficulty, and has been sending money overseas for generations. We should not abandon our commitment to those who are worse off than us now”

She says the current economic crisis is a severe test of Ireland’s principles.  “Our resolve as a country is being tested, we cannot just change our minds and forget our promises to the bottom billion people”.  Comhlámh, along with other Irish NGOs, are calling for the immediate reversal of this cut.  “Ireland is now the first progressive EU donor to renege on its promise to the world’s most vulnerable people. The government was able to find €7bn to assist a reckless banking sector, but apparently cannot find a fraction of that amount to keep its promises – and save lives. This is unacceptable”.

Notes to the Editor

• Comhlámh (pronounced ‘co-law-ve’, Irish for ‘solidarity’) is a member and supporter organisation open to anyone interested in social justice, human rights and global development issues. Marking its 34th year in 2009, it connects, informs, educates and campaigns on these matters.
• Comhlámh curently has in excess of 300 members, the majority of whom have previous experience working overseas with some of the world’s most vulnerable pople.
• The ODA budget has been cut no less then four times since June last year. By €45 million in July 2008, €15 million in October 2008, €95 million in February 2009 and €100 million today
• Ireland’s aid promises are directly linked to size of our economy. The aid targets are set as a percentage of gross national income (GNI) – as the economy shrinks, so does the aid budget. An 8% fall in national income should proportionately result in a cut of €71 million to the aid budget, not a cut of €195 million in less then a year.

For further information, please contact:
Deirdre Murray
Director
Comhlámh
Ballast House, 2nd Floor, Aston Quay, Dublin 2.
Email:  deidre@comhlamh.org
Tel  +353-1-4783490
Fax +353-1-4783738
www.comhlamh.org

 Let’s Get Ireland Back On Track

In the first half of 2009, the Irish Government cut this year’s budget for official development assistance (“ODA”) by €195 million, or 21.8%.  This comes on top of two other cuts in the second half of 2008. The cuts have resulted in the cancellation of vital programmes in the developing world.  They are not only enormously damaging to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people, but they also threaten the jobs of Irish aid workers and their partners overseas.  

Please contact orla@comhlamh.org for more information about how YOU can get involved to help get Ireland Back on Track and bring pressure on the government to keep its promise to the developing world.