Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 48: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which he directly or through the UN and or EU continues to positively influence matters in Colombia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33893/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Ireland supports the government of Colombia's efforts to bring about an end to violence and institute a sustainable peace in the country. A sustainable peace must tackle the various social and economic elements underlying the conflict. Our approach, and that of the European Union and UN, is to assist and influence the Colombian government in a manner that results in economic and social development while progressively improving human rights standards.

As the Deputy will be aware, I had an opportunity to discuss the efforts of President Santos and his administration in some detail during the visit of Colombian Vice President Garzón to Ireland in January. My colleague Minister Costello has also had a number of meetings in recent months, with Colombian human rights activists.

Since 2009, Irish Aid has provided NGOs and Irish missionaries with funding of over €3.5 million for projects in Colombia. €100,000 in Irish Aid funding was approved in April 2011 for an Inter-American Commission on Human Rights project which seeks to protect the rights of human rights defenders in Colombia as well as in Venezuela and Ecuador.

Ireland will continue to support these efforts of the Colombian government via our embassy in Mexico City and with partners in the European Union.