Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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I thank Mr. Gilmore for his time and his statement. They are very much appreciated. On the 15% of stipulations in the Colombian Agreement that have yet to be initiated, is there something that is making them more challenging to implement? Is there something unique relating to why they are there? Like many other people, I find inertia incredibly frustrating. Where progress is being made an end result will eventually be reached but where there is no movement whatsoever it should and does raise a red flag.

I completely agree with Mr. Gilmore regarding cocaine harvesting and the cocaine farm in Colombia. There is a phenomenal amount of work to be done at the demand end of this equation. It is pointless to some degree for farmers' crops to be destroyed. They are simply going to be replaced because the demand does not shrink; indeed, there is a growing demand. When Mr. Gilmore speaks of the need for a fuller discussion in the United States in particular, what does that look like in his experience? If it is to be functional, there needs to be a level of co-operation and engagement with civil society and in terms of government and the legislative programme for that actually to be effective.

I do not want to harp on for too long about the human and business rights issue. Mr. Gilmore has given it significant time already. I want to follow-up on a question asked by Deputy Leddin about the national action plan being progressed, almost into individual countries and legislation. If there is friction - and it may be a bit generous to call it friction - between transnational and state companies in terms of the proposed scope, is it a positive step for companies to be introducing legislation? Is there a role for countries to bring in individual legislation? Given that the EU is working as slowly as it is, we could be having this conversation in 30 or 40 years. In the interim, what steps could individual countries take to influence that area of business and human rights?

Mr. Gilmore spoke about the rise of authoritarianism, which caught my attention. This is something we have seen throughout the world. I note particularly the report stating that 68% of the world's population now live under absolute or electoral autocracies. Given the restrictions that have been put on civil society and the shrinking of that area, what impact does Mr. Gilmore feel social media is having? We know how social media works in terms of algorithms. If I tend to watch videos of a certain description or with a certain kind of content, more of them will be pushed at me. Is that having an impact? Is it being used primarily to push one view?

I am most heartened to hear Mr. Gilmore mention the impact Covid-19 has had on human rights. Generations of women have fought long and hard and those hard-won gains cannot be unwound because of this pandemic. I have said it to other witnesses before the committee that this should be a catalyst for more female participation in certain areas, whether politics, activism or education. In Mr. Gilmore's view and experience in the job he does, how is that going to pan out? Are we moving back 15 or 20 years in terms of the gains that have been made already, or are there areas or countries that are looking at it from a more future-proof perspective of ensuring that there are more women's voices at the table?