Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will respond to representations made to him or his Department regarding the justice and peace law proposed in Colombia and the fears that it will confer impunity on persons accused of crimes against humanity and may confer a form of legitimacy on persons who have expropriated land and property illegally. [39276/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The General Affairs and External Relations Council at its meeting on 3 October 2005, agreed that the justice and peace law, if effectively and transparently implemented, will make a positive contribution to the search for peace in Colombia. It is important that the Colombian Government is now encouraged and supported by the international community in its efforts to implement the justice and peace law effectively. The law, which was adopted through a lengthy democratic political process, provides an overall legal framework for demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration of illegal armed groups into society and also includes a provision for sanctions against demobilised paramilitaries.

The Council conclusions adopted on 3 October also welcomed the continued involvement of the Organisation of American States, OAS, in supporting the demobilisation of paramilitary groups in Colombia. Ireland has committed €390,000 over a three year period to the OAS mission to support and verify the peace process in Colombia. Its mandate is to provide comprehensive support to the Colombian peace process with a focus both on the demobilisation process and on the strengthening of institutions concerned with the rule of law. Amongst our EU colleagues, the Netherlands and Sweden also fund this mission and Ireland will work closely with them, including in ensuring that the mission maximises its role in the peace process.

Ireland was actively involved in negotiating the chairperson's statement on the situation of human rights in Colombia which was adopted on 22 April 2005 at the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. The statement urged that dialogue and negotiations be pursued between the Government of Colombia and all illegal armed groups, aimed at overcoming the situation of violence stemming from the conflict and at reaching a lasting peace.

The situation in Colombia is undoubtedly complex and involves difficult choices and compromises. Nonetheless, the overall view of the Union, and of Ireland, is that we should remain positively engaged with the peace process. In representations made to me on this issue, I have conveyed Ireland's and the EU's position on the justice and peace law in the terms set out above.