Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am very pleased to be here to talk about the plight of Ingrid Betancourt. When I read the articles during the week, I was appalled by her state of health and the cruelty of her captivity. I did not think such a thing would happen today and that people could be so cruel and without feeling. It is a golden opportunity for us to put this issue on the international stage and talk about it here to see how best we can highlight her plight.

When one thinks about all that she was doing and her struggle against corruption and drug trafficking, one sees that she was simply trying to bring about democracy. She was not involved in crime. She was simply talking about freedom of speech and how her country and the democratic state could be reformed. She risked her life and the lives of her children to serve this cause.

She is now in her seventh year of captivity and there is a growing urgency about her situation and that of the other hostages, who are held illegally. Her crusade has earned attention and we must acknowledge that it is a crusade at this stage. I am delighted that France, Spain and the so-called white march have highlighted this to such an extent. We must join with other EU member states in bringing this to national and international attention to fight the guerillas and highlight how we can release this very ill woman.

It is very important to show that Ireland has not forgotten the plight of these hostages. We must have this debate and do it through our work and through talking about it wherever we are. Initiatives by EU partners are very important and we must keep encouraging member states to talk about it, as we are doing here. I hope every other Parliament throughout Europe will highlight this issue.

The question is one of how to support the Colombian Government in its efforts and to get it to enter into dialogue to try to bring about her release. Drug barons and drug trafficking seem to have infiltrated all walks of life in Colombia. They have infiltrated the local economy, the banks and parliamentarians. It is a question of how one breaks that down. Ingrid Betancourt is a wonderful woman who has done so much.

We must stand up here as this is a golden opportunity for us to do what we can to highlight her situation. Assassination is an industry in Colombia. The fact that we and the rest of the world have talked so much about the plight of this woman has perhaps kept her from being assassinated. We must keep talking, as must every country, to try to and see if we can release her from this awful, cruel activity. Like my colleagues here today, I am glad to have the opportunity to put this on the agenda. Hopefully we will get some measure of activity going in whatever shape or form through the media and talking at local meetings. We need our ambassador to keep the talking going because that is the only way it will get through to these people.