Aid agencies have called on the Government to allocate an extra £100 million on overseas aid in the next Budget to show "real intent" towards meeting UN targets. With Ireland's aid contribution languishing at about 0.3 per cent of gross national product, the agencies are worried that the interim target of 0.45 per cent will not be met before the next election is called.
Last month at the UN Millennium Summit in New York, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, made a commitment to increase Ireland's aid budget to the interim target by 2002, and to the UN target of 0.7 per cent of GNP by 2007.
