Concern says commitment to overseas development aid will save lives

Press release14 September 2017

Irish aid agency Concern Worldwide has welcomed An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s commitment to increase Ireland’s overseas development aid budget – which it says will save lives.

Concern said the announcement – made in a speech at the Fine Gael party think-in event in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary today – is significant and timely with so many urgent humanitarian emergencies happening now across the world, including famine-like conditions in war-torn regions of east Africa and the ongoing Syrian and Rohingya refugee crises.

Concern Worldwide Chief Executive, Dominic MacSorley noted:

We are in the midst of truly exceptional global humanitarian crises.

We very much welcome this commitment from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, which will save lives and comes at a time when conflict, inequality and climate change are hitting the world’s poorest and most vulnerable.

It shows Ireland’s willingness to engage with the problems of the world and to continue to be an outward looking nation.

The Taoiseach’s announcement also reinforces Ireland’s long-standing focus on where the needs are greatest.

For more information or interview requests, please call Kevin Jenkinson at 086 358 2886 or by email: kevin.jenkinson@concern.net.