Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland supports, and will advocate the European Union to support, the retention and expansion of the office of the representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Bogota, Colombia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39275/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR, in Colombia was established on the basis of an agreement between the Government of Colombia and the United Nations in 1996. In September 2002, the office's mandate was extended until October 2006. The retention and expansion of the office is for negotiation between the UN and the Colombian Government but we would support a further extension of its mandate.

The office's role is to observe the level of respect for human rights and international human rights law in the country and to advise, and to provide technical assistance to, government authorities and civil society on the formulation and implementation of policies, programmes and measures to promote and protect human rights. Ireland monitors the human rights situation in Colombia along with our partners in the European Union. The General Affairs and External Relations Council on 3 October 2005 commended the work of the OHCHR in Colombia and confirmed the EU's willingness to work closely with it. The Council also reiterated its call on all parties to the conflict to respect human rights and international humanitarian law.

Ireland and the EU will continue to monitor the human rights situation in Colombia and will give full support to the OHCHR in its negotiations with the Colombian Government regarding the future of its presence in Colombia.