This article suggests that there is an urgent need to re-invigorate Ireland\'s commitment to the United Nations target for ODA. Currently, lip service is paid to this commit- ment, but progress towards the target has been very slow. Continuation of the unsatisfactory performance of the last decade has now been enshrined as the objective for the next three years. How can this performance be improved? Mary Sutton ofTrocaire argues that the climate of public opinion is favourable to an increased effort but that the political lead is not forthcoming from the Oireachtas.