In a new series of Far Away Up Close, former government minister Liz O' Donnell packs her bags in search of the real lives behind Ireland's overseas development aid programme.

Exploring how Ireland is contributing to different countries, Liz looks at the impact of Ireland's governmental commitment, a commitment that will see Irish taxpayers spend over €900 million in the developing world in 2008.

Over four episodes, the woman who played a major political role in increasing Ireland's aid budget travels to different countries in Africa in order to explain why aid is not only important to her, but to ask questions about Ireland's aid programme on behalf of the Irish taxpayer. Armed with a wealth of knowledge and expertise on Overseas Development Aid, Liz will explore the realities on the ground from a fresh and qualified perspective, offering us unique access to the behind-the-scenes workings of global inter-governmental relationships and decision-making.

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