Welcome

“It is an affront to our common humanity, five years after the Millennium Summit, that 30,000 children die each day from easily preventable diseases, or that 100 million people go to bed hungry, or that 100 million children are not receiving a basic education.” Speaking to the United Nations General Assembly in September 2005, I set out the challenges that face us today.

Because of our history, Ireland can rightly claim to empathise with those who are suffering from disease, poverty and hunger every day around the globe. But empathy is not enough. Our actions must speak louder than our words.

Ireland has seen much progress over the last ten years. By any measure, Ireland today is a wealthy and developed nation. Now more than ever, we are in a position to help those in greatest need in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Every day Ireland’s official aid programme, Irish Aid, saves lives. Beyond that, we are working to bring about the positive and durable changes that are needed to to give people a fair chance to improve their own lives.

Irish Aid is an integral and increasingly important part of our foreign policy. I strongly believe our aid programme is a practical expression of the values that help define what it means to be Irish at the beginning of the 21st century.

Bertie Ahern T.D.
Taoiseach