Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

First, I have to alert the committee that I was part of the delegation that went to Colombia with Mr. Peter Bunting, Mr. Tom Geraghty and Ms Aileen Morrissey. As I saw the conditions on the ground, I support 100% the reports they have made today. During the visit, we saw the most frightening human rights abuses. Colombia is a highly militarised society with troops everywhere. What is really astounding is the thousands of bodyguards present everywhere. Every politician had three or four bodyguards. Even the trade union and human rights activists are afforded bodyguard protection. The areas where mineral wealth and oil is being extracted are denuded with soil erosion a significant problem on the hillsides. These areas are given only token social benefits. The river crossings for oil tankers, for example, are primitive structures, basically planks of wood. There is chaos in the development of the port in Buenaventura. There are no economic or social benefits to any of the local groups in these areas.
I welcome this timely debate. Anyone who is suspicious that what has been recounted is just the view of trade union officials who are only fighting on behalf of their own members, I would advise them to read the reports of The Guardianjournalist, Seumas Milne, who accompanied the group.
We must acknowledge the trade union movement in the main is bearing the brunt of human rights attacks. These trade agreements were supposed to improve the human rights conditions for people living in Colombia. As has been pointed out, the American agreement built in clauses recognising human rights elements of labour law. It has been proved and documented that these have not been fully implemented. Any debate about the European Union free trade agreement with Colombia slipped underneath the radar. I had problems trying to locate it in the system. I assume the Council of Ministers adopted the agreement which in turn now needs to be ratified by national parliaments. I support the argument that we go slow on the ratification of this agreement.
I thank the Oireachtas Library and Research Service which produced a phenomenal amount of documentation as to what is going on in Colombia. I thank the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for its sophisticated briefings and its Latin American-Caribbean unit. I do not know who is in the unit but we must ensure it is familiar with what we observed in Colombia. Accordingly, before there are any further developments in ratifying this treaty, we should engage with the unit with the view that it should be our eyes and ears on the ground and go into the areas in Colombia in which we have been. There are significant concerns among various non-governmental organisations working in these areas.

The bishop is just a tragic example of a man who has almost been beaten by the criminality in his region.

We need further reassurance that there is someone within the Department who is examining what is happening on the ground. That individual should be in regular contact with the committee in order that it would have at its disposal the information necessary to allow it to apply as much pressure as possible on the Government of Colombia.

I compliment President Santos on engaging in the peace process. In view of the fact that three terrorist organisations, including FARC, control between one quarter and one third of the territory of Colombia, there is no point in pretending that this does not inevitably create a conflict between the state, its forces and those involved in terrorism. Given our history, we should make it known to President Santos, through the Colombian ambassador if necessary, that we would be happy to engage in facilitating the next important stage in the peace process, to which there are six key elements, on four of which broad agreement has been reached. The other two remain outstanding. The theory is that peace will not come to Colombia until those involved on all sides reach agreement on each of the six elements to which I refer. We are in a very powerful and influential position in encouraging the ambassador to deliver a message to the President that we would be happy to engage, use the experience of civil servants here who have been involved in the globally acclaimed peace process in Northern Ireland and assist in any way possible.

If Colombia remains in a state of constant conflict, human rights will inevitably be abused. The President uses a very unsavoury tactic in dealing with representatives of civil society, trade unionists, the religious and academics. If it is hinted in the Parliament of Colombia that somebody is connected to FARC, even though that person might only be explaining his or her political philosophy, he or she can be killed. Once one's character is attacked by any of the political forces in parliament, one is certainly vulnerable to being murdered. I ask that our civil servants, in conjunction with the committee, engage in a proactive way with President Santos on the peace process, while simultaneously pursuing the issue of human rights.

Colombia is a country with great potential, but it is in a sad state. In the context of the trade agreement, the Colombian Government's website states, "Parties to the agreement must ensure that internationally-recognised human rights and democratic principles – including labour rules – are observed and upheld". That is its interpretation of the agreement. However, the delegates have just explained that human rights are not being respected and that the relevant democratic principles are not being applied. I appeal to the committee to support the Government in despatching someone from the Latin America and Caribbean unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to operate on the ground in Colombia and report back to us in order that we might engage in dialogue with the Colombian authorities. There is no point in international agreements being signed in Brussels if they are not going to be honoured. As the Chairman is aware, the committee has a strong commitment to human rights. In fact, that commitment is one of the foundations on which the committee was built. It would be a sad day for the committee and Ireland if the Government were to ratify an agreement in the full knowledge that human rights abuses were taking place.