Sir, - One suspects the vast majority of Irish people would concur enthusiastically with the sentiments expressed in your Editorial (October 23th), on the contribution of Irish missionaries to the alleviation of suffering among the poorest of the poor in Africa.
GOAL, in common with many other aid agencies, has consistently funded social and health initiatives established by these Irish missionary groups, since we know that they, like us, work at the grassroots level, bringing aid directly to those who need it most.
As President McAleese and Minister of State Liz O'Donnell will have discovered during their visit to Uganda this week, a small investment in grassroots programmes can bring a lasting improvement to the lives of thousands.
I sincerely hope that the report of the Review Group on Ireland Aid policy, a body chaired by Ms O'Donnell, will acknowledge this discovery, and act upon it. - Yours, etc.,
John O'Shea, GOAL, D·n Laoghaire, Co Dublin.