The former president, Mrs Mary Robinson, has expressed her disappointment at the Government's failure to reach a United Nations target on overseas aid by 2007.
Mrs Robinson said she was "very proud" when the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, told the UN General Assembly in 2000 that Ireland would reach the target of 0.7 per cent of GNP for aid spending by 2007.
"I think it's a political commitment but it was made in a most solemn way. It wasn't just made in the Dáil; it was made on behalf of the whole people of Ireland at the General Assembly, which was deciding on the UN millennium development goals," she said.
Last week, however, it emerged that the target will not be met. The Minister for Finance, Mr Cowen, said spending would increase to 0.5 per cent by the target date; aid agencies say the figures show that an even smaller increase, to 0.44 per cent, is likely.
Mrs Robinson said she quoted the Taoiseach's commitment many times with pride. It showed "we understand, we connect, we relate and we are now much better off. There is a symbolism and a reality to sticking to a commitment like that, particularly an important commitment made internationally."
It also helped Ireland get "a very solid vote" for election to the UN Security Council, she told a hedge school organised by the human right organisation, AfrI.
"It was never going to be easy and to me it is a commitment that resonated with our history, with our sense of ourselves.
"It is not unreasonable in the context of the revenues that are coming into the modern Ireland. I don't think you can take the Government to court on it but I'd like to see a lawyer try," Mrs Robinson said.
Separately, a group of churchmen, union leaders and other public figures have expressed their "dismay" at the U-turn.
"We are gravely concerned that Ireland's broken promise will precipitate a reversal of commitments by other rich nations and do profound damage to Ireland's international reputation," they say in an open letter to the Government.
The signatories have called on the Government to use Budget day next Wednesday to name a date for achieving the target.
