Minsiter Neale Richmond to Warn of ‘Unnecessary Suffering’ as International Donors Cut Overseas Aid - 19/09/2025

The international aid system is facing an enormous funding crisis, and the closure or reduction in life-saving projects due to budget cuts will result in “more unnecessary suffering”, the Government is to argue.Ministers will say on Friday that Ireland is spending more on international development assistance than ever in the 50-year history of Irish Aid at a time when other large donor countries are cutting back.In a speech to mark the launch of Irish Aid’s annual report, Minister of State for International Development Neale Richmond will say that while Ireland is spending record amounts, it is “a source of great regret that other donors appear to have chosen different paths”.The new report will say that Ireland’s official development assistance (ODA) in 2024 amounted to a total of €2.35 billion, representing 0.56 per cent of gross national income (GNI).Minister Neale Richmond joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.