It’s not humanitarian aid, it’s money for the government to spend on developing a sustainable infrastructure and amenities for its citizens. On the point of having Irish feet on the ground to ensure money is being spent appropriately;.. it was Ugandan officials that uncovered and brought attention to the fraudulent funneling of cash, so credit where it’s due.

Uganda buys millions of dollars worth of Arms from SA every year. They have extensive Gold mining operations etc.
The Irish taxpayer has to give them millions of euro that we don’t have by borrowing more. The primary reason for this is to make Gilmore et all look good on the international stage and help with their EU / UN profile and image.

Ugandan politicians could learn a lot from our gang.

I will money on it, that the only reason they those Ugandan Officials uncovered it, is because they didn’t get a cut of the spoils!! Africa is corrupt

The entire continent of Africa is corrupt, is it?

Just think of how much money they did get away with. I suppose they couldn’t hide it away

Dose that include the wages for the parasites . Working there or is that extra ?

The TD had quietly looked after themselves already – didn’t we all hear about that one too when they gave themselves more increases?

http://bigginsblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/irish-tds-award-themselves-more-money/

Ireland gave €650 million last year to foreign aid, down from just under €1 billion on previous years.

Time to start looking after our own, espically as the fund that were being sent have been misappropriated and may be so again.

Charity starts at home.

Foreign aid needs to be stopped. We don’t owe anyone anything.

We are letting most of the third world stay here anyway.

If a person wants to give money to a charity thats fine, but I don’t want my tax money going abroad when we have starving students, a rise in homeless, people comitting suicide because of lack of jobs.etc etc

Personally, I’d like to see the money put towards better Cystic Fibrosis facilities in this country. Wishful thinking, I know.

“We are letting most of the third world stay here anyway”

That really really detracts from the rest of what you say, Katie.

Well said. Couldn’t agree with you more!!

We are letting most of the third world stay here anyway? I suggest you read a book.

Mart, racists are generally too ignorant to stay incognito for very long.

Cutting aid altogether isn’t going to help change the minds of those that want such laws introduced. It’s mainly a religiously fueled idea and most politicians are against it. They recently said that current legislation is sufficient. If the bill was to pass due to corruption or coercion, President Museveni has hinted that he would veto it due to international pressure.

Such international pressure would be greatly reduced if aid was cut.

This is the whole point in development aid, it’s not just about giving money away.. it’s about giving political leaders a reason and purpose for bringing about meaningful change.

@mart_n stop making excuses for these thieves and warmongers the point being put across here is if they can afford fighter jets they don’t need aid using the veto to blackmail the west into giving aid is just sick improve the people’s lot by all means but giving money to politicians without restrictions is just plain stupid

The fact they feel a need to produce fighter jets is what people need t contemplate. Afghanistan are the biggest receivers of ODA right now yet people are paying to destroy whatever it brings.

We don’t build fighter jets.

That’s called tied aid and is considered bad by the OECD for loads of reasons – Google it.

Imagine we did? The calamity

Oh!! The Ugandan Government would have bread off that one. Called us every bad name under the sun

It’s development aid. If we want to live in a developed and progressive world then those with the ability and resources have an obligation to help poorer nations become developed.

…all the while excusing any help to its own citizens!!

so we give away millons in aid and then beg the e.u for a bailout .what a joke

If all aid programs were stopped, do you guys honestly believe that either of those things would change?

We also give money to India. That have an effing space program.

We’re paying for it !!!

i wonder is spain and greece still giving away foreign aid ? doubt it somehow !

Both of those countries do still provide official development assistance to other nations. I’m unaware of any country that ranks as ‘very high’ on the Human Development Index that doesn’t set aside money for development aid.

mart-n do you think ireland is in a position to be giving money in aid to anyone ?

We’re in more of a position to do so now than we were in 2007/8. Maybe if we had decided to cut back then we wouldn’t have required such a hefty bailout, but by cutting aid now we’ll still have those bailout commitments in place. The amount of development aid has been reduced significantly over the last few years.

People say that Africans deserve to be where they are today, but they don’t deserve to be left with even less because of our own mistakes.

Ireland remains in second place on the Human Development Index inside the EU.. more people are struggling here than before but as a nation Ireland can still afford to provide aid to far far less well-off people.

It’s not a one-way system either, charity isn’t necessarily altruistic after all. There are studies which show that quality of life levels and international perceptions of more charitable countries directly correspond to improved economic outlooks.

The world isn’t in a static state (we more than others should know that by now).. it could be us on the receiving end of such collective generosity some day.

People must have a real low opinion of Africans that they will ignore their own countries ruins to send millions to such corrupt countries. When billions/trillions has been spent on aid to Africa and its still no better after all these years by Western Nations aid. Why should Irish taxpayer money go to a homophobic state that hunts down/murders/vilifies LGBT people. Its nice and all to donate to homophobes but not when we’re struggling ourselves. This is all about Gilmore’s image. The money never goes to the people anyway.

I remember 25 yrs ago I invited some Dutch friends over. On our new roads were signs saying ” this road is funded by EEC.” She said so thats where all my tax goes, on Irish roads” . We have always had the cap in hand.. still do. We cant afford to be taking the high moral ground.

I assume you have access to running water, food and it seems internet, as most in Ireland do, what has a developing country like Uganda got? Selfish Irish mentality. c*nts imo.

Uganda has got a nice fleet of Sukhoi attack aircraft,recently bought at 20 million+ each.Attack aircraft far better for one’s people than proper sanitary conditions running water etc.

What is the relevance of that to my point? The US. has a huge military budget yet tens of millions go hungry. People lose and democracy wins.

Barro are we giving aid to the US?.My point is if you give your neighbour money to improve his families lives,would you be happy if he bought a gun instead to shoot his other neighbour?

misapropriated funds you mean? the subject of the article?

Comments evolve beyond the substance of all articles on sites such as this or hadn’t you noticed?I will repeat my point,i’m happy for my government to help improve the lives of my poorest neighbours.But if said neighbour has the resources to buy expensive killing machines,clearly funds from my government are surplus to requirements,therefore not needed.

You know, all I ever hear about Africa, that they are developing countries. Africa has more natural resources than any other part of the world, but they spend more time making war! How long are they going to be developing??? It’s their own fault they are in the mess they are

Bloody hell, they are not renting them. They were brought over by the E.U from Audi. They’re left hand drive and will be going back after the presidency. If you’re going to moan off subject, than get you’re facts right

Quick note; don’t believe everything you see on the internet. those vehicles are of no cost to the taxpayer.

You’re a misinformed idiot. Back in your box.

@ To all Muppets calling me a Muppet go f*** yourselves and get your facts right. If they are paid by the EU arent we in the EU fools.

You want to read your own comments as well as a newspaper, muppet. You said “the government”. That, and you do this in nearly every story. Bore off like a good troll

@ The clown (moyles) with the torch go suck a lemon. Luck up the word troll fool. You bunch were the ones starting crap.

Well Declan, at least I don’t hide behind a cartoon character like a true clown! Like I said, you go off topic with this rubbish on countless stories. And we weren’t starting crap, just stating the truth. Sorry if that gets in the way of you bitching. By the way, the e.u sent them over but Audi are supplying them & still own them. Keep trying though!!