U2 lead singer Bono made a direct appeal to the Taoiseach in relation to overseas development aid during Saturday night's concert in Croke Park, attended by Bertie Ahern.
During the performance Bono welcomed the Taoiseach to the show, but called on him to live up to the Government's commitment to raising overseas development aid to 0.7 per cent of GNP.
Mr Ahern was booed by sections of the crowd when his name was mentioned by the singer, something which has become an increasing occurrence when the Taoiseach has been attending large occasions.
Four years ago Mr Ahern pledged to the United Nations that the Irish Government would reach this target by 2007, but last year it was admitted that this target would not be reached. It currently stands at just over €500 million per anum, or 0.4 per cent of GNP.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is in discussions with the Department of Finance on when the Irish Government will reach the target and the Government is expected to announce a revised timetable in the next few weeks.
During the concert Bono said this generation could be remembered for more than the war on terror or the internet if chronic or "stupid poverty" could be eliminated.
He said Irish people could contribute to this campaign and he also urged the Taoiseach to increase Government aid.
Acknowledging that there were domestic-budget priorities such as investment in health, he said increased spending on them should not be at the expense of development aid.
"We ask you to stand up for Africa," the singer said from the stage. "We know you want to, we know you can."
The previous day both men met at the Taoiseach's constituency office St Luke's close to Croke Park to discuss Third World poverty issues, including debt relief and the forthcoming G8 summit.
The Labour Party is to publish a draft Bill today that would require all governments by law to honour the 0.7 per cent commitment.
Under the proposed law the target would have to be met within two years of the enactment of the legislation. The Bill also provides for the establishment of a "development co-operation Ireland fund board", to administer the funds.
Meanwhile Bono acknowledged yesterday that he is concerned about being used by US president George Bush and British prime minister Tony Blair to give legitimacy to their policies. But he warned that if world leaders did not live up to their promises to relieve poverty, they will "deserve our boos and our hisses".
Interviewed on NBC's Meet the Press, Bono also expressed agreement with Bob Geldof that events surrounding the G8 summit next weekend should not be turned into a Bush-bashing festival.
The meeting of the eight industrialised nations and Russia takes place from July 6th to 8th at Gleneagles, Scotland, and will be marked by a Make Poverty History march in Edinburgh and eight Live8 concerts in different cities around the world.
NBC's Tim Russert asked Bono about a June 21st commentary in the Guardian arguing that by letting "these hairy people" share their platform, Mr Bush and Mr Blair would benefit from their "sanctity".
Bono replied: "As a hairy person, yes, I'm very concerned. It's the biggest risk that we take as activists."
He agreed he was being used in a certain sense by US political leaders, but it worked both ways. If they delivered they must deserve applause and on the debt issue - G8 countries have agreed to relieve the debt of 18 poor nations - they deserved credit.
"If they blow it, then they deserve our boos and our hisses and they will lose our audience."