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

Under the breakdown of bilateral assistance, the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, will note that Ireland enjoys a good working relationship with NGOs internationally. It is amazing to think that, under the civil society and development education unit, a total of €84 million will be going towards Irish and international NGOs. The Irish will benefit from €65.4 million allocated to predominately Irish NGOs.

We pride ourselves as a committee in engaging in trade links, but we are conscious that human rights are always to the fore. My question to the Minister of State is as follows. In light of the vote today on the Colombia and Peru trade agreement, Ireland insisted in Europe on the incorporation of human rights labour clauses. We were very much to the fore in having that accepted by Europe. I note that in an American deal with Colombia, the Americans inserted a labour clause. The only reason we are as familiar with Colombia today is not to do with the Colombia Three, but is to do with the fact that our NGOs on the ground could see societal activities that ran counter to their and our philosophy - in other words, the abuse of human rights. How does the Department monitor cross-departmental activity? Today's debate about Peru and Colombia was led by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, whose Minister is Deputy Richard Bruton.

Is there a disconnect between these international trade agreements, notwithstanding that built into them are substantial human rights conditions? Is implementation of these European agreements in regard to human rights monitored?

The lobbying by the NGOs today was to the effect that we should not sign the agreement. We do not have any NGOs in Peru because nobody is telling us anything about it. However, we are hearing about Colombia and the abuses that have occurred there in the past and about the peace talks currently taking place. Given Ireland's role in the area of human rights how can we reassure the NGOs who ask us not to support the trade agreement that the situation is being monitored and that the Government is prepared to feedback information in this regard to the national parliament throughout whatever mechanism is available? Is there available a mechanism through which feedback can be provided to this committee or the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation?

We respect the NGOs and their opinions. We know they witness human rights abuses. While clauses on labour and human rights are built into the agreements how can we assure them that, for example, the dos Santos regime is implementing them?