Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 51: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing murders of trade unionists in Colombia; the action the international community is taking, or proposes to take, in order to end these killings including direct discussions with representatives of the Colombian Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31747/09]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 57: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the ongoing human rights abuses in Colombia, particularly the murders of trade unionists, the negotiations of a free trade agreement between Colombia and the European Union will be suspended. [31748/09]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 71: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the EU's Free Trade Agreement negotiations with Columbia should be halted in view of the increasing number of murders of trade unionists in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31757/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 57 and 71 together.

Ireland attaches considerable importance to the vital work of trade unionists in Colombia and condemns all acts or threats of violence against organisations and individuals working there. I deplore the fact that the numbers of those killed continues to rise year-on-year.

Ireland has consistently raised the issue of anti trade union violence in the appropriate international fora. At the recent Universal Periodic Review of Colombia's implementation of its human rights commitments, held at the Human Rights Council in Geneva in December 2008, Ireland raised a number of issues relating to human rights in Colombia. Specifically, we called on the Colombian Government to implement its existing legislation in full, sanction unsubstantiated allegations against individual activists, strengthen the protection provided to individuals and investigate and punish crimes against them.

The Government monitors the human rights situation in Colombia through our Embassy in Mexico City, which is accredited to Colombia, as well as in cooperation with our EU partners with resident diplomatic missions in that country. I have asked the Embassy to follow the issue closely. Issues regarding human rights, human rights abuses and the situation of trade unionists are raised on an ongoing basis with the Colombian authorities through the EU-Colombia dialogue on human rights and in regular contacts at political level.

The EU recognises that the Colombian Government is trying to restore the authority of the State in the context of significant ongoing terrorist activity in the country. The 2007-2013 EU country strategy paper for Colombia recognises that the "situation as regard human rights and democracy in Colombia is still critical" and that "the most vulnerable groups include indigenous peoples and Afro-Colombians, as well as, inter alia, social leaders, trade-union leaders, journalists and human rights defenders".

EU relations with Colombia are also conducted in the framework of regional relations between the EU and the Andean Community comprising Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Negotiations aimed at concluding a comprehensive Association Agreement between the EU and the Andean Community were formally launched in 2007. This Agreement will govern all facets of relations between the EU and these countries, including political dialogue, cooperation and trade. Due to differing levels of economic development within the Andean Community, free trade agreement negotiations are further advanced with Colombia and Peru within the overall framework of the Association Agreement.

We fully recognise that there is no one solution for promoting peace in Colombia and that the various social and economic elements underlying the conflict have to be tackled simultaneously. Our approach and that of the European Union is to support the Colombian Government as it emerges from decades of terrorism, and to influence that process in a manner that also results in greater respect for human rights.

Ireland has made a considerable financial contribution towards the Organization of American States' monitoring of the disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation process in Colombia as well as to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights' monitoring of the human rights aspects of this process.