Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Does Deputy Dan Neville wish to comment?
For the benefit of the committee, I want to bring it up-to-date in relation to a parliamentary question of today's date in the name of Deputy Finian McGrath which was answered by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and states:

The Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States and the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Peru, is an agreement within the meaning of Article 29.5.2 of the Constitution. Ratification by Ireland is therefore subject to prior approval of Dáil Éireann. It is my intention to shortly seek the necessary approval so that Ireland is in a position to ratify the Agreement. So far, 17 EU member states have ratified the agreement.
Article 1 of the agreement stipulates that respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights and for the rule of law is an essential element of the agreement. During the negotiation of the agreement, Ireland strongly promoted the inclusion of provisions to reflect this essential element.
The inclusion of a sustainable development chapter in the agreement provides the EU with an important means to contribute to supporting positive social reforms and to the greater protection of human rights in Colombia. Furthermore, the setting up of a special committee, with representatives from Colombian civil society, to monitor implementation of the sustainability provisions demonstrates how the EU can develop real leverage for promoting its values and expectations through this agreement.
The elaboration by Colombia and Peru of roadmaps on human rights, labour rights and environmental protection in October 2012 clearly demonstrates how the agreement can incentivise an agenda for change. Against this background, I believe the Agreement with Colombia will be instrumental in encouraging economic and social progress reinforced by arrangements that strengthen the voice and role of civil society in favour of the progressive development human and labour rights. This is also recognised by the European Parliament that last year voted to approve the agreement.

I expect the committee will engage with the Minister who is going to be involved in this issue at the earliest possible date. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will have a role and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has given his indication as to what is expected from the agreement. Having regard to the views expressed by the committee members, it is incumbent on the European institutions, prior to the signing of the agreement, and during the course of its operation, which is, according to reports, inevitable, to monitor and to ensure that the issues raised here would be brought to the attention of the authorities there with a view to ensuring that the issues that the witnesses have very correctly raised are dealt with.
I want to particularly thank the delegates for the itemisation of the various incidents that they have brought to the attention of the committee which are obviously beneficial to the committee and beneficial to the Ministers in their perusal of the degree to which the agreement will operate in favour of civil society and the protection of human and civil rights.