Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the ongoing threats to trade unionists, civil society leaders, and human rights and defence lawyers, his views regarding the recent 50% cut in the petrol allowance that is given by the Colombian Government in order that trade union and civil society leaders can use protective vehicles. [44811/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The fuel allowance scheme referred to by the Deputy is a scheme administered by the National Protection Unit, which operates under the Colombian Ministry of the Interior. The purpose of the fuel allowance scheme is to facilitate trade union leaders and human rights defenders using protective vehicles as they carry out their difficult and dangerous work. It is my understanding that the number of human rights defenders covered by the National Protection Unit has increased and that this increase has put pressure on the allocation currently in place for the programmes it manages. This has in turn had the impact of reducing the resources available for the fuel allowance scheme. I encourage the participants involved in the protection programme and the Colombian Government to continue to engage in discussions so as to ensure that this and other aspects of the national protection programme operate effectively.

Ireland and our EU partners believe that the safety of human rights defenders and the protection of their rights must be ensured in Colombia, as elsewhere. Support for human rights defenders is therefore a strong element of our dialogue with the Colombian authorities. When I met earlier this year with Colombia’s Vice President, I raised with him the concerns of the Irish Government about reports of human rights abuses and the dangers faced by human rights activists and trade unionists. I urged that the Government of Colombia take all measures necessary to gain the trust and confidence of all of its people in order to support the peace process there.

The decision by the Colombian Government in 2009 to treble the budget of the protection programme for human rights defenders to US$47 million was a positive development. I also welcome the establishment last year of the National Protection Unit to manage initiatives aimed at the protection of human rights defenders, trade union representatives, witnesses and other vulnerable groups in Colombian society. I have asked the Irish Ambassador accredited to Colombia to monitor these initiatives and to keep me informed of developments.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

In terms of financial support for sustainable development in Colombia, including with regard to the particular vulnerability of human rights defenders, Irish Aid funding of some €3.5 million has been provided since 2009 to support the work of civil society organisations and Irish missionaries in Colombia. This funding has had a particular focus on human rights, including human rights defenders, and peace-building. Together with EU and UN partners, Ireland will continue to support the efforts of the people and Government of Colombia to bring an end to violence in their country and to secure a sustainable peace which tackles the various social and economic elements underlying the conflict and improves progressively human rights standards.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Colombia is at a crossroads. The peace talks were supposed to start today, but we are now told it will be tomorrow. I thought the Minister might take this question with Question No. 42, which refers to the Patriotic March, involving elements of Colombian society coming together on this issue. I recently met with groups from the region and their concern is that with these key elements coming together for the peace talks they are worried about the signal that will be sent if somebody is injured or killed as a result of the cut in that allowance. The Minister referred to the increase in the number of people under this protection programme. However, that is also a result of the talks.

There is tension within Colombian society about these talks. Those who speak out against the Columbian Government, be it a supreme court judge, a human rights activist or a trade unionist, are labelled as supporters of the guerillas, and that in itself puts one in a situation. Any section of society that is vocal on human rights issues is usually labelled that way. I am worried about the impact this cut might have on the historic talks due to be initiated tomorrow. My concern is the signal it will send. Perhaps Ireland, through its ambassador, would wish the participants in the talks well. It is also important, due to the sensitivity of the talks and the pressure as a result, that nobody should use the talks as an excuse to attack those people who are protected under this system.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The importance of protection for trade unionists and human rights defenders features prominently in our dialogue with the Colombian authorities. I raised it with the Vice President when I met him earlier this year. Our ambassador accredited to Colombia has also raised the issue, and that is ongoing. In the EU context, both Ireland and the EU believe that ensuring the safety of human rights defenders and protecting their rights is important. The issue of human rights and the need for Colombia to make further progress is a prominent aspect of the European Union's dialogue with Colombia, particularly in the context of the human rights clauses of the free trade agreement. There is an ongoing, structured human rights dialogue between the EU and Colombia. The seventh session of that took place in Bogotá in July last and in the course of that dialogue the EU raised, as one of its primary concerns, the treatment of human rights defenders.

I am aware of the establishment of the National Patriotic Council and the Patriotic March which took place in April to mark its foundation. The CPM movement is a group of civil society groups and activists and describes its focus as being that of achieving peace and social transformation through democratic means. The Irish Government supports representatives of civil society in Colombia in their efforts to address the legacy of conflict through democratic and peaceful means. Indeed, since 2009 the Irish Government, through Irish Aid, has provided non-governmental organisations, NGOs, and Irish missionaries working in Colombia with funding of approximately €3.5 million for projects in Colombia.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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I note the Minister's comments about the role of the EU in this regard. Given that Colombia is at this historic crossroads, perhaps there is something the EU can do in this regard. Some people see the free trade agreement, FTA, with the European Union as legitimising the human rights record in that country. People want to see concrete results in that area. I believe the cut in the allowance sends a bad signal, particularly in the atmosphere there at present. Perhaps the Minister would raise it again with his colleagues in the EU and also through the ambassador. This could potentially be a negative step in view of the historic nature of those discussions.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I agree that these discussions are historic. We will pay close attention to what takes place in the discussions in Oslo. I have asked our ambassador accredited to Colombia to continue to raise these issues with the Colombian authorities and to report to me on his observations, conclusions and whatever responses he receives.

In so far as the human rights situation is concerned in Colombia and the difficulties faced by trade unionists and human rights defenders, these are a priority for our discussions with Colombia and the European Union's discussions with Colombia.

On the free trade agreement, there are those who ask if there should be free trade agreements with countries with human rights issues but the existence of free trade agreements strengthens the position of the European Union to engage on human rights issues. Indeed, there are specific human rights clauses built into the free trade agreements and as far as Ireland is concerned they must be implemented and honoured.