Press Releases10 May 05

Church of Ireland Bishops' Appeal Calls on Government to "Name the Date"

In a submission to the Irish Government White Paper on Overseas Development Assistance Policy, the Church of Ireland Bishops' Appeal called on the Government to name a date when it intends to reach the UN target of 0.7% of National Income towards overseas development assistance. (The full text of the submission follows).

Referring to the Taoiseach's committment to the UN in 2000 to achieve the figure in 2007, the submission said it was "very disappointed that this commitment was dropped last year, especially as Ireland is now one of the wealthiest countries in the world. CIBA [Church of Ireland Bishops' Appeal] therefore asks the government to announce publicly the year in which it now intends to reach the target."

Elsewhere in its submission the Church of Ireland Bishops' Appeal expressed concern that "the current approach that suggests that "Free" trade is the panacea for the entire developing world's trade ills simply isn't working". Arguing that heavily subsidised farming in the EU and the USA is devestating farmers in the developing world, it recommends that steps be taken to protect Irish farm incomes while removing subsidies that have a negative impact on the competitiveness of local producers in poor countries.

The submission also calls for cancellation of unpayable debt and expresses concern at Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA's) being placed as conditions for aid.

Bishops' Appeal Submission to Irish Government White Paper on Overseas Development Assistance

Church of Ireland Bishops' Appeal (CIBA), the church's World Aid and Development Programme, welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Irish government's White Paper on Overseas Development Assistance.

CIBA welcomes and supports the general thrust of the government's overseas aid policy. It welcomed the commitment made to the United Nations in 2000 by An Taoiseach that Ireland would meet the UN target of 0.7% of National Income by 2007. It was very disappointed that this commitment was dropped last year, especially as Ireland is now one of the wealthiest countries in the world. CIBA therefore asks the government to announce publicly the year in which it now intends to reach the target.

CIBA submits that the aim of government Overseas Development Assistance policy should be to assist countries in receipt of development aid to achieve the Millennium Development Goals MDGs). It considers that implementing policies of Trade Justice, providing More and Better Aid and ending the scandal of unpayable debt will help countries achieve the MDGs.

Trade Justice expresses concern that the current approach that suggests that "Free" trade is the panacea for the entire developing world's trade ills simply isn't working. Heavily subsidised and much larger producers in the EU and USA are devastating farmers in Ghana (chickens and tomatoes), Mali (cotton), and Honduras (rice) to give some examples. CIBA is aware that there can be serious implications for the Irish farming community of a sudden end to all subsidies. It recommends that steps be taken to protect Irish farm incomes while removing subsidies that have a negative impact on the competitiveness of local producers in poor countries.

CIBA asks that the Irish government uses its vote in the EU, IMF and other International institutions to call for the cancellation of unpayable debt. It should also oppose the use of conditions normally imposed for debt relief. These conditions, including restrictions on public spending leading to cut backs in health and education and forced privatisation of public services, worsen living conditions for the majority of people in countries supposed to benefit. To give some statistics - poor countries have borrowed EUR420 billion, have repaid almost EUR500 billion and still owe the original EUR420 billion; for every EUR1 given in aid EUR3 returns to the International Financial Institutions and western countries in debt repayments.

As mentioned above, Church of Ireland Bishops' Appeal asks that the government increase its aid budget to meet the target of 0.7% of national income and announce when it will reach this figure. CIBA also asks that the EU increase its aid to developing countries and expresses its concern at the use of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) as conditions for aid.

EPAs imposed by the EU can have the same impact on recipient countries as the conditions imposed for Debt Cancellation. These countries may not be in a position to refuse to agree to an EPA so it is important that Ireland uses its voice to ensure that aid is given with minimal conditions. It is CIBA's view that the conditions be limited to transparency of accounting for aid received and a commitment to ending corruption by recipient countries.