Poll: Should Ireland distribute foreign aid while it is in a bailout?

With the government suspending aid to Uganda yesterday, we’re asking should Ireland be distributing foreign aid while still under the terms of a bailout?

By Hugh O'Connell Friday 26 Oct 2012, 10:01 AM

Oct 26th 2012, 10:01 AM 14,679 Views 169 Comments

https://jrnl.ie/650210

Image: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Image: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

YESTERDAY, THE GOVERNMENT announced that it was suspending direct aid to the Ugandan government and investigating the loss of as much as €4 million which may have been misappropriated.

The news will raise new questions about funding devoted to Irish Aid. The budget this year is €639 million but this has been reduced dramatically since 2008 when it was close to €1 billion. Funding goes towards NGOs like Concern, GOAL and other missionary groups as well as building infrastructure and providing humanitarian assistance in developing countries.

But with Ireland currently facing a deficit of around €13 billion this year and subject to the strict conditions of an international bailout could the money devoted to helping other countries be used instead to address this deficit and help Ireland to emerge from the bailout sooner?

So our question is: Should Ireland distribute foreign aid while it is in a bailout?

Poll Results:

No (2573)

Don't know (1399)

Yes (1248)

Irish Aid: Tánaiste “absolutely disgusted” after alleged Uganda aid fraud

Short URL

About the author:

About the author

Hugh O'Connell

@oconnellhugh

hugh@thejournal.ie

See more articles by Hugh O'Connell

Contribute to this story:

Send a Correction

COMMENTS (169)

∞

About Us

Corrections

Report Content

Policies

TheJournal.ie supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1890 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie

Please note that TheJournal.ie uses cookies to improve your experience and to provide services and advertising. For more information on cookies please refer to our cookies policy.

News images provided by Press Association and Photocall Ireland unless otherwise stated. Irish sport images provided by Inpho Photography unless otherwise stated. Wire service provided by Associated Press.

Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for user created content, posts, comments, submissions or preferences. Users are reminded that they are fully responsible for their own created content and their own posts, comments and submissions and fully and effectively warrant and indemnify Journal Media in relation to such content and their ability to make such content, posts, comments and submissions available. Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for the content of external websites.

Poll: Should Ireland distribute foreign aid while it is in a bailout?

With the government suspending aid to Uganda yesterday, we’re asking should Ireland be distributing foreign aid while still under the terms of a bailout?