The Taoiseach Brian Cowen has been contacted by 66 non-government agencies (NGOs) in a letter appealing for the government not to target overseas aid in the upcoming budget.


They say if Ireland does not fulfil its commitment to steer 0.7% of the country's GDP to foreign aid by the year 2012, Ireland would be showing the world it cannot keep its commitments. The call comes as the World Bank revealed 400,000 will die in the world every year if the recession continues to worsen.