Ireland has a deserved reputation for the delivery of effective development aid, having built up its commitment over the last 20 years, providing targeted assistance to some of the poorest states in Africa.
Successive OECD reports have commended the programme, which is the ninth best per capita in the world. Building on that achievement the Government announced in 2000 that overseas development assistance would reach the United Nations target level of 0.7 per cent of GNP by 2007. Although the promise was solemnly repeated over the following years at various international and national fora it was formally - shamefully and regrettably - abandoned last October. The Government, which seems to have inter-departmental difficulties in coming to a decision, is due to announce a new deadline by the UN millennium review summit in September.
Public attention to its decision will be increased as a result of the large Making Poverty History demonstration in Dublin this week, by Irish participation in similar events in Scotland this weekend ahead of the G8 summit and by the Live8 concerts to highlight how primary poverty in Africa can be relieved. These are all welcome manifestations of solidarity which should be heeded by the Government.
ODA is running at €545 million or 0.39 per cent of GNP this year - roughly one fifth of what old age pensions cost each year, one half of the disability programme or one third of community health services. Ireland spends 39 cent out of every €100 of national wealth on the poor of the developing world.
Roughly half of this sum makes up Ireland's contribution to multilateral organisations, primarily the UN and its agencies, including emergency aid. The other half makes up the bilateral aid programme concentrated on Uganda, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, Lesotho and South Africa. Smaller sums go to Timor-Leste, Vietnam, Palestine, Iraq, and Balkan and Latin American states.
The programme is carefully monitored, aimed at the poorest people and states and is not tied to trade with Ireland. It involves substantial contributions by Irish development organisations in delivering projects such as water for agriculture and educational facilities.
At current levels of economic growth, attaining 0.7 per cent of GNP by the original date of 2007 would involve an expenditure of €1 billion then. A decision to reach the UN target by 2010, 2012 or 2015 would commensurately increase the spend - probably to double that figure. At that rate it becomes a substantial amount, competing seriously with other budgetary items, including health, perhaps in tighter economic circumstances.
As one of the richest countries in the world, there is an overwhelming public wish that this commitment be honoured conscientiously. The only question is by when. This is an issue on which Ireland should take a leading role.