Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 114: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her Department is involved in representing Ireland in the European Union's negotiations to sign a free trade agreement with Colombia; if she will instruct her officials to support the suspension of these negotiations in view of the high levels of human rights abuses in Colombia, specifically the unprecedented level of assassinations of trade unionists in that country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45355/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland attaches importance to the work of trade unionists in Colombia, and condemns all acts or threats of violence against trade union organisations and individuals there.

Accordingly, Ireland regularly takes the opportunity to raise issues relating to human rights in Colombia, both bilaterally and in international bodies. In fact as recently as Friday 4th December my Department raised the issue with the Commission at the Trade Policy Meeting.

Negotiations for a free trade agreement are pursued in the context of an overall Association Agreement, which will govern all aspects of relations, including political dialogue and cooperation as well as trade, between the EU and Colombia. This Agreement is part of an EU strategy to support the Colombian Government as it tries to combat significant terrorist activity and to influence it in a manner that also results in greater respect for human rights. Ireland supports that strategy.

As the EU is a single customs union with a single trade policy, it is the European Commission that negotiates for all Member States in talks for trade agreements.