Presenting the submission, Hans Zomer of D\u00f3chas said: \u201cIreland\u2019s overseas aid is effective. It makes real and positive differences to the lives of millions of people across the developing world. Thanks to aid, nine out of ten of the world\u2019s children are now in school and millions of people have been lifted out of poverty. Aid works, and we must sustain the progress being made. We are therefore calling on the government to keep our promise and urgently present a plan on how Ireland will achieve the UN targets on overseas aid.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n D\u00f3chas also highlighted that there continues to be overwhelming public support in Irish society for overseas aid. In July, an opinion poll undertaken by Ipsos MRBI found that a very large majority of people \u2013 75 percent \u2013 think that \u201ceven in an economic down-turn, we have an obligation to invest in overseas aid\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cPublic support for investing in overseas aid remains strong. This opinion poll shows that 3 out of every 4 people in Ireland do not want an economic crisis to be a reason for us to turn our back on the world\u2019s poorest people,\u201d<\/em> noted Zomer.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cThe figures remind the Government that the vast majority of people in Ireland feel strongly about our tradition, and our obligations towards those less fortunate than ourselves. The people of Ireland do not want the aid cuts to continu<\/em>e,\u201d concluded Hans Zomer.<\/p>\n
