Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and the action he will take in seeking their release. [23892/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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My Department monitors the situation in Colombia, including the question of hostages and kidnap victims, through our embassy in Mexico City, which is also accredited to Colombia, as well as in co-operation with our EU partners with resident diplomatic missions in that country. As the House is aware from my replies to previous questions on this subject, Ms Ingrid Betancourt, a candidate in the 2002 Colombian presidential election, was kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, on 23 February 2002.

During the Irish Presidency of the European Union last year, the General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC, underlined the European Union's view of the importance of a rapid release of all remaining hostages and kidnapped persons. Ireland participated at the international meeting in support of the peace process in Colombia that took place in Cartagena in February 2005. The Cartagena Declaration issued at its conclusion called for the immediate freeing of all those kidnapped. At the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights, the chairperson's statement on Colombia of 21 April 2005, to which Ireland actively contributed, also urged the immediate and unconditional release of all the kidnapped persons in Colombia.

The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Treacy, met Mr. Juan Carlos Lecompte, the husband of Ms Ingrid Betancourt, on 28 June 2005 during his visit to Ireland. Deputy Treacy assured Mr. Lecompte that the Government shares his concern about the plight of his wife and the many others who are held hostage in Colombia. He said that Ireland, together with our EU partners, strongly condemns the practice of hostage-taking and kidnapping and we call upon all illegal armed groups in Colombia to release hostages immediately and unconditionally.

The Minister of State added that we continue to support the Government of Colombia in its search for a negotiated solution to the internal armed conflict, including through direct engagement with those illegal armed groups who may be prepared to negotiate a peace agreement. We will continue to work with our EU partners to encourage a resolution to the plight of Ms Betancourt and the other kidnap victims in Colombia.