Press Room > Oxfam Ireland Press Release

Oxfam Ireland welcomed the announcement by EU development ministers that they would meet a set of interim targets towards achieving the UN target of 0.7% of GNP in overseas aid.

'This is a hugely welcome announcement from EU Development Ministers which brings us a step forward towards achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals. If implemented it could lead to an extra €20 billion towards alleviating poverty.' said Colin Roche of Oxfam Ireland.

European Development Ministers, meeting at the General Affairs and External Relations Council of the European Union today agreed to reach a set of interim targets for the achievement of the UN commitment to spending 0.7% of GNP in overseas aid. The Ministers agreed that the EU 15 (those members states prior to the 2004 enlargement) would achieve a collective target of 0.56% by 2007 and an individual target of 0.51% on the way to achieving 0.7% by 2015 at the latest.

The 10 new member states pledged they would strive to pay at least 0.17 percent by 2010 in order to reach a goal of 0.33 in 2015.

'It also highlights, once again, that Ireland needs to up its game. On current trends Ireland will miss these targets and not achieve the UN commitment of 0.7% of GNP until sometime around 2028' said Mr. Roche.

In November 2005 the government announced that Ireland was reneging on the 'absolute commitment' given by Bertie Ahern to achieve the 0.7% UN target by 2007. At the same time the government announced their spending plans for 2005, 2006 and 2007 which will bring spending to 0.43% by 2007.

'While we welcome the decision of the EU 15, these collective targets should not be used as an alibi by the government for its decision to renege on its own commitment of 2007. Four EU countries have already met the target and it's time for us to do the same.' continued Mr. Roche

'The Irish government now needs to announce an early date for achieving the 0.7% target, with a year by year plan, backed by legislation, for achieving it. This will only be credible if the government announces additional funding over the next two years,' said Mr. Roche

For further information contact:
Paul Dunphy, Press Officer, 01 604 0706/ 0879058075
Colin Roche, Advocacy Officer, 01 604 0702 / 085 722 2731

Note to Editors:
The Government's 3-year spending plans for Official Development Assistance announced alongside the Government Spending Estimates in November 2004 were as follows: €535 million for 2005; €600 million for 2006 and €665 million for 2007. The GNP forecasts announced in the Budget on December 1 2005 were €122 billion for 2004, €132 billion for 2005, €142 billion for 2006 and €153 billion for 2007.

As the following table illustrates, this means that the figure for 2007 will be 0.43% of GNP. Extrapolating the percentage growth of Ireland's ODA in the period 2006-2007 (0.0125%) means that the 0.7% target will not be achieved until 2028 and that Ireland's percentage spending by 2010 will be 0.47% of GNP.
  

« Return to Press Releases homepage