Should Ireland be sending monetary aid to the US?

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CCOVICH

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Just saw John O'Shea of GOAL on News 2 railing against the Irish Government for sending €1m to the Hurricaine Katrina relief effort.

The aid is being given through the Irish Red Cross, whose representative said that the Red Cross doesn't care who benfits from their aid, as everyone in receipt is a worthy cause.

I'm not sure that we should be sending monetary aid, but don't object to Ireland sending assistance in other ways (based on the fact that the US has plenty of money, but maybe volunteers, specialists etc. are required).

What do people think? I can see merit in both JO'S views and those of the IRC.
 
how much money did US give to the Ireland fund in the last few years despite the Celtic Tiger? Yep. Its only a token gesture anyway. and there are plenty of needy people in New Orleans.
 
Yes.....much as many like it or not..the US has to be regarded as an ally. Despite the misgivings on George Dubya & his phoney war on Iraq...all of that has to be put aside.

The US has long supported this country..and even though the level of money being provided is tiny in the grand scheme of things...it still warrants it.
 
Not to be facecious, €1million would buy a hamburger and fries for each of the inhabitants of New Orleans.Equally sending 20 or 30 soldiers would probably hamper the progress of the National Guard and GIs. Hopefully the EU can come up with some megabucks.

What these people need above all in the short to medium term, is someone to bang heads together in Washington to get some action on the ground. Levees need to be rebuilt, electricity needs to be restored to operate pumps etc,communications have to be rebuilt and above all law and order has to be seen to be effective.

Surely California has such resources stacked away in reserve for the eventual earthquake there.
 
The aid is being given through the Irish Red Cross, whose representative said that the Red Cross doesn't care who benfits from their aid, as everyone in receipt is a worthy cause.
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I million is a gesture of our goodwill and sympathy towards those who have suffered.

I have no difficulty with our country sending this money.

Marion
 
I can also see where John O'Shea is coming from but in the context of our national exchequer €1m is chickenfeed and the committment of this sum appears to be purely a gesture of solidarity with the US. As such I think it is worthwhile.
 
ubiquitous said:
I can also see where John O'Shea is coming from but in the context of our national exchequer €1m is chickenfeed and the committment of this sum appears to be purely a gesture of solidarity with the US. As such I think it is worthwhile.
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Yeah I think that's probably the best way to look at it.
 
I'd prefer to see us commit to a set project - for example we should sponsor the reconstruction of one specific school in the area with the money - we'd see our little bit of money produce tangiable results rather than just be lobbed in with the billions given by others.

You know that Kuwait has given $500m! Madness... with a bit of self interest...
 
CGorman said:
You know that Kuwait has given $500m! Madness... with a bit of self interest...
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Loosening the taps on the oil production might be of more use given the upward pressure Katrina has put on oil prices. I'd estimate every $1 on a barrel of oil is worth close to $2 million a day to them so if sustained for a few months the increase in oil more than covers that.
 
JOS describes Irish army helpers as 'boy scouts' and €1million as 'may as well give it to Bill Gates'

Strong stuff!
 
Does JOS not trust the Red Cross or something? I'd sooner trust them than Goal and the bully boy tactics of their head man to be honest.
 
Today's Sunday Turbine reports that Niall O'Dowd (publisher of the Irish Voice) has resigned as a director of Goal USA following JO'S's comments, and one other director is also close to resigning.
 
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