Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The ambassador is very welcome and I thank her for addressing the committee and taking the questions we may have. Not unlike part of my country, emerging from a stage of conflict is never easy. The old wounds die hard. As people try to cope with the injustice of the past, there will be many opportunities to fall on the path to full peace and reconciliation.

It is not so much that I have questions for the ambassador as I have things I would like her country to do. My colleague, Deputy Brady, has outlined a number of serious matters of concerns. It is my belief that when these allegations are made, it is vital that the Colombian Government openly and honestly addresses each issue as it arises. The investigation of issues that arise from time to time, particularly in the area of human rights abuses and violence, is extremely important. If the country cannot be certain of an impartial investigation from among its own people, it should bring in international people to investigate human rights abuses or issues where there is some doubt with respect to the violence.

We have the Good Friday Agreement and some people would say we have not come an awful long way since the day we signed it. There are still difficulties and those difficulties will be there for many years to come. I ask that the public of Columbia be made aware of every instance of abuse or violence, and that they are dealt with openly and honestly in the local communities, as well as satisfying the international press and watchers.

I wish Colombia well. I want to see it emerge and become the type of place the ambassador spoke of, where we would want to holiday and engage on a full-time basis. It will never be an easy road for Colombia but as it walks this road, the people of Ireland are with it. As good friends can, we will challenge it from time to time and ask the ambassador to explain issues, such as my colleague, Deputy Brady, has raised this morning. I thank the ambassador for coming before the committee and ask her to pass on my thanks to Mr. Archila Peñalosa who had to leave the meeting.