Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I ask the Leader to make time for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to come to the House to discuss the issue of the European Union's position in its free trade negotiations with Colombia. I have discussed this with the Minister, Deputy Martin, and believe he is concerned about it. It is heartening to know that all 12 Irish MEPs have signed a petition asking for the suspension of the free trade negotiations with Colombia. In the past two years, as has been confirmed by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the number of non-judicial executions has doubled, the number of deaths attributed to the army has doubled and the number of people forcibly pushed off their lands has resulted in the highest number of refugees per capita in the world.

While I will not go into further detail given the time constraints, I ask the Leader to consider taking a motion from the House to ask that the EU would suspend the free trade negotiations with Colombia until the UN is satisfied that proper steps are being taken to restore human rights. It is an issue the Green Party may also have raised at Government level recently.