Ireland has 4th highest support for humanitarian aid within EU according to euro barometer – Hayes

Member of the European Parliament’s Development Committee, Brian Hayes, Fine Gael MEP has welcomed increased support for humanitarian aid.   The survey was carried out for the European Commission as part of its Eurobarometer series by the polling company Behaviour and Attitudes.

“Compared to a European figure of 85%, 91% of Irish people “totally support” and “tend to support” humanitarian aid. Ireland has the 4th highest support for humanitarian aid in the 28 Member States of the EU behind Croatia (95%), Lithuania (93%) and Sweden (92%).

“A survey carried out in Ireland for the European Commission in 2012 showed 34% ‘totally supported’ humanitarian aid, now that figure stands at 53%, a 17% increase. It’s clear that as our economy recovers Irish people’s support for humanitarian aid grows. In fact we are ahead of our European counter parts. The survey carried out in Ireland by Behaviour and Attitudes in March shows that a clear majority 53%, in Ireland ‘totally support’ humanitarian aid compared to 39% across the 28 Member States of the EU.

“The result of this survey is timely as we reach the halfway point in the European Year of Development. On a daily basis I meet politicians, diplomats and NGOs in Brussels who admire our strong bi lateral aid programmes with third countries as an excellent model of development cooperation.

“I believe that as a country coming back from the brink; more self-confident about the future, an increased Official Development Aid (ODA) budget reflects the values of the Irish people. Setting out a timeframe to achieve our 0.7% ODA target is the right thing to do at this stage in our recovery. There is in my view public support for it and equally the international community will want to know how long it will take to honour our commitments.”