The Minister for Overseas Development, Peter Power T.D., has welcomed the publication of the 2008 Commitment to Development Index, which ranks Ireland fifth in terms of overall policy approach to the developing world. 

The Index is published annually by the Centre for Global Development in Washington D.C.  It assesses the policies of 22 developed countries in terms of their overall effectiveness in the fight against global poverty.  Ireland was ranked seventh in 2007 and twelfth in 2006.  Earlier this year, the Centre ranked Ireland second internationally, after Sweden, in its commitment to development in Africa.

The Centre has highlighted the effectiveness of the Government’s aid programme, the fact that it is untied and in the form of grants rather than loans, and its concentration on the poorest countries.

Minister Power stated:  “The Index represents further international recognition of the major role Ireland is playing in the fight against global poverty and hunger, through the Government aid programme and through the efforts of individual Irish citizens and groups.”

The Minister also welcomed the outcome of the UN Conference on Financing for Development in Doha last week, which achieved unanimous agreement on the need to maintain international commitments to the developing world.  The Conference also agreed on the holding of a UN conference at the highest level on the world financial and economic crisis and its impact on development. 

The Minister stated:  “When I spoke in Doha, I made it clear that the international response to the economic crisis must not undermine the partnership with the developed world – that that the poorest people on the planet cannot be the chief victims of a financial crisis which owes much to the greed of the already rich.  I was particularly pleased by the international recognition at Doha of the leadership role Ireland is now taking on the hunger crisis.  Against the background of economic crisis, the Government remains determined that Ireland will continue to work in partnership with the poorest countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and make a real contribution to the eradication of global poverty and hunger”. 

Note for Editors

The six top-ranked countries in the Commitment to Development Index for 2008 are: Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, United Kingdom.

Further details are available at:  www.cgdev.org/cdi

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Press Office
7 December 2008