Irish Overseas Aid

Herrick

With all the Government cuts, tax increases and in fact, new taxes introduced. I wondered what peoples thoughts are on all the aid being sent overseas?

According to: http://www.irishaid.gov.ie/about.asp

The amount of aid sent overseas in 2010 was €675.8 million. What I find ridiculous is the fact that this amount is actually borrowed just to be given away :eek: The same will go for all ODA for the immediate future.

I know this will sound callous to some, but I honestly would prefer to see all of this aid stopped, until we were back on our feet.

I mean if we were flush and could afford it, then I wouldn't blink an eye.

But borrowing and paying interest on money that will be given away is just stupid imo. I mean you wouldn't take out a €100,000 loan from the bank and give it to charity would you? Why should the Government be any different?

Then you have the questions about whether the aid always reaches those who actually need it. Also, before anyone asks, I wouldn't be against another country cutting aid to Ireland if the shoe was on the other foot.

I think a countries duty is to it's people first and if that is looked after, then help others. But in our current situation, we simply cannot afford to borrow money just to send it abroad.

Bodhisopha

Feed the world. Let them know it's xmas time.

not yet

Double it........sure fcuk it we're in the sh1ts anyway, so someone somewhere should benefit from it.

Naomi00

The UN makes every country give Overseas aid just to keep themselves happy. Everyone knows that it does not get spent the way it's supposed to because if it was, these problems would have been solved a long time ago.

Giving government funded aid is just like throwing money away. All they do with it is buy guns, weapons and fancy houses for whatever dictator or corrupt government the other country has. Even countries that receive aid have to donate money too which makes no sense at all.

My name is URL

This'll end well

donvito99

Having been to a terribly poor country 2 years ago, I'm satisfied that that 675 million goes to a far better cause than banks or the troika.

Wibbs

Over 4 times the amount they reckon they'll get from the household tax. Borrowing/cutting other services/extra tax to pay this out? Daft isn't in it.

RichieC

I'm all for altruism but handing the shirt off your own back is just idiocy.

Naomi00

donvito99 wrote: »

Having been to a terribly poor country 2 years ago, I'm satisfied that that 675 million goes to a far better cause than banks or the troika.

Eh it goes to their government's pocket, not the people who need it. Are you still satisfied that we give that much money away?

That's why a lot of people think it's a waste of money, unfortunately we are forced to pay it by the UN. NGO's do a much better job of getting money to the poorest people.

Also a huge reason why those countries are still as poor as they are is because all the aid we give them is taken off them again by their own government, police forces, gangs etc. They need to stop guilt tripping naive people into giving more money until things like this are resolved because the situation at the moment is completely ridiculous.

Owryan

We could send over some of our creative bank officals to any country in need, sure they.ll just borrow the country into prosperity, sure it worked for us..............oh wait . Lets send them anyway , any broke countries who still practice cannibalism ?

Seriously tho I dont like the idea of borrowing money to give to some corrupt country, but outside of refusing to pay it and upsetting the crusties/do-gooders what options have we ?

Degsy

White man's guilt and nothing more...give em nothing i say...if africa cannot sort its own problems then we shouldnt be throwing money at the place.

pragmatic1

Its time that countries rich in natural resources start paying their own way in the world and looking after their own citizens.

Owryan

pragmatic1 wrote: »

Its time that countries rich in natural resources start paying their own way in the world and looking after their own citizens.

Only if china hasnt got there first

donvito99

Is there an Irish Underseas aid?

Wibbs

donvito99 wrote: »

Is there an Irish Underseas aid?

Mermaid tax? I could get behind that.

DEFTLEFTHAND

The countries that receive countless aid donations don't seem to be getting any better, money is obviously not getting through to those who need it. The governments of these nations need to get their house's in order, we can't keep propping them up forever.

johngalway

Charity begins at home.

Herrick

donvito99 wrote: »

Having been to a terribly poor country 2 years ago, I'm satisfied that that 675 million goes to a far better cause than banks or the troika.

But here's the thing, the banks and the other institutions will still get their money regardless. We're simply borrowing extra and incurring higher debts just to get that 675 million to send out, putting us further into debt. Borrowing for this aid is only giving us extra debts on top of what we owe as it is.