Latest news with #Trócaire
RTÉ News
25-06-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Irish NGOs say cuts to aid funding are putting millions of lives at risk
Leaders in Ireland's humanitarian sector have said that millions of lives are at risk after western countries drastically cut foreign aid budgets this year. The United Nations has said that donor retrenchment has been so large that it has been "forced into a triage of human survival". More than 300 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, and a record 120 million people are displaced, according to NGOs. "At a time that we're seeing an increase in violence, an increase in the death of preventable illness, an increase in hunger, what we're seeing is donors walking," said Jane-Ann McKenna, CEO of Dóchas, a network of NGOs. Aid systems have been "completely dismantled" as a result of funding gaps, she said. "It is women, it is children who are suffering the most as a result of these aid cuts. What we're seeing is… that over the next four years they expect that the number of deaths of AIDs related illnesses to increase by 4.2 million people. So, these are really lives on the line," she said. Ravaged by conflict and climate change, Somalia is one country feeling the impact of the substantial aid cuts. Those working in centres which treat malnourished children are seeing the difference already. Admissions have "skyrocketed" according to Trócaire. "I haven't seen them as full as they are now since I started working in Somalia eight years ago… and that is through a famine period of 2022 and 2023. That is directly attributable to aid cuts," said Paul Healy, Somalia Country Director with Trócaire. "We've to make hard decisions in Somalia. I've seen babies die. We are not going away but we certainly have to rethink and reimagine the kind work that we can do with fewer resources and saving as many lives as possible," he said. 'The math is cruel, and the consequences are heartbreaking' The United States, once the biggest foreign aid world donor, slashed the USAID funding when Donald Trump took office. Cuts of £5bn to the UK overseas aid budget is due to come into effect by April 2027, as part of plans to increase defence spending. Germany and Canada have also announced cuts to aid. The United Nations recently announced a drastic change to its global humanitarian operations due to the deepening hole in its budget. The UN received $5.6 billion so far this year - 13% of what it initially sought. "The math is cruel, and the consequences are heartbreaking. Too many people will not get the support they need, but we will save as many lives as we can," said UN aid chief Tom Fletcher. Irish aid agencies GOAL and Concern have both said that they are at risk of losing hundreds of jobs. Documents seen by RTÉ News also revealed in April the cloud of uncertainty that overshadowed Irish NGOs in the days and weeks that followed US president Doanld Trump's executive order to freeze and terminate foreign aid funding, as tens of millions of euro in funding essentially disappeared. Hundreds of redundancies have been reported across the Irish aid agency sector and development projects in countries such as Sierra Leone, Somalia and Syria have been significantly affected. GOAL and Concern were the largest recipients of US government funding, with annual income of €103 million and €58.3 million from USAID respectively. Trócaire received €1.38m from USAID and Self Help Africa received €308,000. According to the documents, GOAL's Turkey-Syria programme was most impacted as 85% of it is funded by USAID. As a result of the funding freeze, Self Help Africa decided to pull its services out of three African countries by the end of the year. Concern confirmed that it has lost over €20 million in funding from the US government. Oxfam Ireland is another charity that continues to assess the funding gap. "We know that it's a long-term problem that is being created for political expedience in some parts of the world," said Jim Clarken, CEO, Oxfam Ireland told RTE News. "Ultimately countries need to remember that aid isn't just about charity or immediate lifesaving work, it's about long-term development. It's also about security. Everybody's security. A more developed world is a more secure world. It's a safer world, it's a better world for everybody," he said. Ireland must 'step-up and step-in' Irish NGOs are now coming together, in a new campaign, to highlight their concerns, although the true impact is not fully clear. Christian Aid Ireland chief executive, Rosamond Bennet said that she knows no one can fill the gap left by the likes of USAID. However, she said that other countries including Ireland could show leadership when it comes to international aid. "It is absolutely necessary that we can step-up and step-in and show leadership in this area and that the sustainable funding that Irish aid provides is absolutely crucial at this moment in time," said Rosamond Bennet. Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, said the Government is "absolutely committed" to maintaining the Irish Aid budget. "Investing in this work is not only morally the right thing to do, it is also entirely within Ireland's interest to create a world that is safer, healthier and more prosperous," he said in a statement to RTÉ News.
Irish Examiner
04-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Ireland's love affair with fossil fuels is an oil-soaked slippery slope
The global fossil fuel industry is raking in staggering profits while fuelling the climate crisis that is wreaking havoc on the planet. While the global conversation has increasingly focused on reducing reliance on fossil fuels like oil and gas, government action has been neither sufficient nor urgent enough. As the world now faces the escalating impacts of this climate crisis — from drought and coastal erosion in Honduras, to storms here in Ireland — Trócaire's latest report examines Ireland's role in supporting the continued growth of this unsustainable industry, which endangers billions of lives around the world. Launched just last Thursday, our report, 'Fuelling Injustice – Ireland's Fossil Fuel Problem', explains that the emissions from just 25 oil and gas corporations between 1985 and 2018 caused more than $20 trillion in damages, while at the same time amassing profits of $30 trillion. Such figures starkly highlight the injustice of the situation. Wealthier nations in the Global North, where emissions are highest, have not taken the lead in reducing their carbon footprints, instead allowing climate-harming corporations to operate primarily without regulation. This negligence manifests as a human rights crisis across the globe, with marginalised communities—who have contributed the least to climate change—suffering the most. They face extreme weather, loss of lives and livelihoods, displacement, and hunger, pushing them deeper into poverty and amplifying existing inequalities. Globally, governments continue to enable the expansion of this destructive industry, often at the expense of the world's most vulnerable populations. Alarmingly, by 2030, governments collectively plan to produce more than double the amount of fossil fuels required to stay within the critical 1.5C warming limit, set by the Paris Agreement. This completely disregards the scientific consensus, the necessity of phasing out fossil fuels to mitigate further climate impacts, and violates the agreements and obligations to protect and support those who have done the least to cause this crisis, but who are suffering the most. Ireland's climate impact It may not surprise many to read that Ireland is falling short of its commitments, but by how much is truly shocking. Current government policies and private sector initiatives are facilitating an increase in the country's fossil fuel demand and infrastructure, (such as plans for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities) and the proliferation of data centres. These plans directly contradict Ireland's climate obligations and risk entangling the country in human rights abuses linked to continued high greenhouse gas emissions and excessive energy demands. Claims that dependence on more polluting, fossil fuels is a solution to energy security couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, it only exacerbates vulnerability to geopolitical shifts and price shocks. Right now, Earth is projected to reach a sobering 2.6 – 3.1°C of warming by 2100. However, if the rest of the world had polluted like Ireland, the world would already be at 3.6°C of warming. Ireland is on a slippery slope to missing our emissions reduction target of 51% by 2030, with just a 23% reduction expected. Even before you consider the impacts of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities and the energy use of projected data centres, Ireland's ambition and delivery on climate action falls far short of our fair share. These shortcomings alone are due to cost the country €26 billion — an alarming sign of a government failing to meet its obligations. Ireland's role as a global financial hub further complicates the issue. With substantial investments in fossil fuel companies through Irish subsidiaries, Ireland is directly and significantly implicated in the climate crisis. In June 2024, Irish investment firms held roughly €31.76 billion in fossil fuel assets, 91% of which were tied to companies actively expanding fossil fuel production. The emissions linked to these investments exceeded Ireland's national emissions by a staggering 20%, underscoring the need for accountability on these activities, which is currently lacking. The world's climate crisis The climate crisis is fundamentally a human rights crisis, and there have been increasing calls from human rights treaty bodies for a complete fossil fuel phase-out and stringent regulations against corporations responsible for damage both at home and abroad. In Malawi where Trócaire works, 56% of those affected by Cyclone Freddy's impacts were children. Following Cyclone Freddy, hundreds of health facilities were disrupted, while displacement camps faced limited access to sanitation and medical care, leading to a surge in the spread of cholera, malaria, malnutrition, covid-19, and other vaccine-treatable diseases. This is what climate injustice looks like: those who do the least to cause the crisis are paying the highest price. Children, women and the world's most vulnerable are losing everything. Action It is time for a decisive shift away from fossil fuels. Ireland can be a key player in this transition by endorsing a global Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, by prohibiting new fossil fuel infrastructure, and swiftly implementing policies that promise a just phase-out of fossil fuels domestically, and urgently reduce emissions. Every fraction of a degree of warming holds dire consequences, making every tonne of carbon pollution critical. Ireland must urgently align with the global call for action to mitigate against catastrophic climate breakdown. It's time to hold both polluters, states, corporations, and their investors accountable. To address our complicity in the climate crisis, Trócaire is calling on the Irish Government to implement a Climate Damages Tax on fossil fuels investments, which could generate up to €3.33 billion by 2030 and €20 billion by 2050. This would help partially address the ecological debt incurred from exceeding our fair share of carbon limits. Additionally, leveraging public finance to compel polluters to pay for their contributions to the crisis could provide critical resources for climate finance commitments and support marginalised communities; a Climate Damages Tax and other measures available to Ireland that would make polluters pay could generate up to €9.7 billion annually. Failing to act decisively compromises our environment and increasingly stains our moral fabric as a nation responsible for national and global human rights. The time to act is long overdue. Sinéad Loughran is Climate Justice, Policy, and Advocacy Advisor at Trócaire Read More Four billion endured extra month of extreme heat due to climate change – report
Irish Times
25-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Why are people in their late 20s and 30s so disillusioned with religion?
At first glance, there is little comfort for committed Catholics in a recent poll carried out by Amárach Research and commissioned by the Iona Institute, of which I am a patron. Rates of Mass going have plummeted. Only 16 per cent defined themselves as regular Mass goers. At least people are more benign towards Christianity than they are to institutional Catholicism. While only 27 per cent have a favourable attitude to the Catholic Church , half the respondents have a favourable view of Christianit y. (Slightly fewer people, 45 per cent, agree that Catholic teachings are still of benefit to society.) For comparison, a La Croix poll on the institutional Catholic Church in France found 33 per cent positive, 26 per cent negative, and 40 per cent neutral views. However, the Irish poll also suggests that 25 per cent of the population would be happy if the the church vanished from society. If it did disappear completely, the quarter of a million callers to St Vincent de Paul (SVP) in 2023 might miss the influence of the church. Our society might miss the €14.6 million SVP spent on housing and child and family services alone, out of a total expenditure of €101.2 million. The developing world might miss the €30.9 million donated by the Irish public to Trócaire, mostly through campaigns organised through churches and schools. READ MORE Others might miss priests like Fr John Joe Duffy of Creeslough, whose humanity at a time of tragedy acted as an anchor . Or perhaps the generous spirit of Fr Paul Murphy, forgiving the teenage attacker who stabbed him. . When it comes to attitudes to priests and nuns, roughly a third are positive, while the same number are negative or neutral. Every act of child abuse is a violation and a tragedy. The crime of sexual abuse wreaks havoc for survivors and their families, and ripples out to affect the trust people have in all priests and nuns, no matter how blameless. Although the estimates of the prevalence of child sexual abuse have improved since these questions were first asked in 2011, the survey still shows that people overestimate by a factor of about four to one. The average estimate is that 18 per cent of clergy are abusers, with an astonishing 8 per cent believing that it is 50 per cent. [ Priest numbers in Dublin to fall 70 per cent in 20 years, report predicts Opens in new window ] All statistics need to be treated with caution due to the danger of under-reporting, but the John Jay College study for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops found that approximately 4 per cent of priests active between 1950 and 2002 had been accused of sexual abuse of minors. Similar prevalence rates were found in a commissioned German study which found that 4.4 per cent of Catholic clergy were accused of abusing minors, with a higher proportion among diocesan priests (5.1 per cent). An independent commission in France estimated the proportion of abusers was about 2.5–2.8 per cent of clergy. Given the impact of the scandals, it is interesting that when it comes to religion and spirituality, the most disenchanted cohort is not the 18- to 24-year-olds but the 25- to 34-year-olds. People in their 30s were small children in 1994, when the Fianna Fáil/Labour coalition government fell following a row over then attorney general Harry Whelehan's alleged role in the delayed extradition of Fr Brendan Smyth, a notorious paedophile. The three-part series, States of Fear, was broadcast in 1999, documenting the awful lives endured by children in church and State-run institutions. Cardinal Secrets, which was about the Dublin Diocese, appeared in 2002, while the Murphy and Ryan reports were published in 2009. It's not that these scandals have not impacted 18- to 24-year-olds. In the youngest cohort, only 19 per cent have a favourable or very favourable attitude to the church. However, while 43 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds have a positive or very positive impression of Christianity (as opposed to institutional Catholicism) only 29 per cent of 25- to 34-year-olds do. The scandals seem to have soured the slightly older cohort not just on Catholicism, but on religion and spirituality in general. Seventeen per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds say they are religious compared with just 5 per cent of 25- to 34-year-olds. Only 31 per cent of the younger group consider themselves to be neither religious nor spiritual, in contrast to 42 per cent of 25- to 34-year-olds. In addition, 18- to 24-year-olds are more likely to read spiritual or religious books, follow individuals on social media who discuss spirituality and religion, and take courses with religious or spiritual content than the older cohort. It does not mean that watching spiritual content online transfers easily to membership of a community, but it does indicate a search for meaning. The fear among believers of engaging with young people is one of the many ugly consequences of the scandals, while the weakening and ageing of local church communities do not help either. Yet suppose Catholics really believe that they offer something both transcendent and practical that enhances joy. In that case, there is a timely opportunity to reach out to these young people who are showing more openness to religion and spirituality.
Irish Independent
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Board game created by Ursuline College students comes third in national final
Their game, 'Isteach is Amach' impressed judges and other youth attendees alike at the finals event, which took place at The Helix, Dublin on Tuesday, 13 May. More than 200 students, teachers, and youth workers from across Ireland attended the final showcase, where 29 teams of finalists presented their original board or card games on global justice themes linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS). Winners were chosen by other finalists and the Trócaire judging panel after all those in the competition played and voted on all 29 games. Now in its seventh year, Trócaire's Game Changers competition, which is supported by Irish Aid, invites young people to explore complex world issues and creatively respond through the medium of play. Mary Coogan, Trócaire's Development Education Programme Manager, explained: 'Game Changers brings global justice learning to life. The standard this year was outstanding, and we're delighted to celebrate the creativity and passion shown by young people. You could tell all of the young people at the final enjoyed playing 'Isteach is Amach' as did the adults, the game was the only Sligo entry to reach the final, they should be so proud of the work they did to build such an informative game.'
RTÉ News
30-04-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
More than €31bn held in fossil fuel investments
Irish-based subsidiaries of investment companies held more than €31 billion in fossil fuel investments as of June 2024, according to a new report from ActionAid Ireland and Trócaire. Ireland's foreign direct investment model facilitates the investment. In 2023, the investments made into fossil fuel companies by investment managers based in Ireland generated an estimated 72.5 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (CO2e). This is more CO2e than the entire country of Ireland emitted in the same year. Siobhán Curran, head of policy and advocacy at Trócaire said: "Ireland's facilitation of fossil fuel investment on its shores is more than Ireland's yearly carbon footprint. "While Ireland has its targets to reduce emissions and phase out fossil fuels, this is being allowed to happen here." The top financial institutions for fossil fuel investment here were BlackRock (€18.9 billion), State Street (€4.4 billion), and Crédit Agricole (€2.1 billion). According to the report, 91% of the investments in fossil fuel companies by investment managers based in Ireland were to companies that have plans for fossil fuel expansion. Trócaire and ActionAid Ireland are calling on the government to tackle the climate crisis through both tax reform and corporate regulation of financial flows through Ireland that fund fossil fuels. "Governments and financial regulators must impose strict controls on fossil fuel financing, ending tax breaks for the most polluting industries. "A global financial system that is designed to prioritise profit over planetary survival is one that requires an urgent and deep overhaul," the report says. The two NGOs say that Ireland and the EU are moving in the "wrong direction" in this area. "The recently passed EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive excluded investments; and now the EU Commission's Omnibus legislative proposal threatens to undo the limited gains made on climate plans, as well as blocking future attempts for stronger action at national level," the report added. The burning of fossil fuels accounts for more than three-quarters of greenhouse gas emissions and 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions, according to the United Nations. The more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the warmer the global temperatures become. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued repeated warnings that the world should not warm past 1.5C. For every fraction of a degree above that, there are irreversible environmental consequences including rising sea levels, increased frequency of extreme weather events and ecosystem collapse. Continuation of current policies on the climate crisis will lead to a "catastrophic temperature rise" of up to 3.1C by 2100, according to the latest 'Emissions Gap' report from the UN Environment Programme. "Ireland is facilitating the reckless pursuit of profit by financial institutions and corporations, who continue to pursue further expansion of oil and gas in spite of all the warnings and at the expense of the planet," Ms Curran said. "The massive injustice is that it is the communities Trócaire work with in climate vulnerable countries that are feeling the worst impacts of these decisions. This is grossly unfair and contrary to the Paris Agreement and the Programme for Government," she added.
