Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Diaspora, Seán Crowe TD, has expressed his disappointment at the government’s decision to attack the most vulnerable in Ireland, and by also failing in their public commitment to eradicate poverty worldwide by cutting the Overseas Development Aid (ODA) budget by €19.4 million.

Deputy Crowe said:

“The Government with this Budget, have turned their backs on the concept of equality and fairness, and decided to attack the most vulnerable people in Ireland and across the globe.

“They have shamelessly attacked the elderly, those needing medical cards, working mothers, and young unemployed citizens. In fact their cut on unemployment benefit for under-25s will only have one gigantic effect- increasing the emigration queues in Irish airports.

“I am also disappointed that they have cut the ODA Budget by €19.4 million. This is the sixth consecutive year that the ODA Budget has been cut and it is now 34.6% lower than it was in 2008.

“Our ODA not only directly helps some of the most impoverished people in the world, but along with an independent foreign policy, it can also help countries decrease inequality, stabilise and develop democratic institutions. This creates a more prosperous and balanced global market for Ireland to trade in, and a better more inclusive world for us all to live in.

“While I understand the financial difficulty we face as a country, it is extremely important for the world’s poorest and most underprivileged, that this Government stabilises our ODA budget and sets out how they plan to reach the goal of ODA being 0.7% of GNI; a target that Ireland committed to back in 2000.”

ENDS