Written answers

Wednesday, 25 January 2017

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Human Rights

Photo of Bríd SmithBríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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67. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans following the latest deferment of the trial of a person (details supplied) in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3098/17]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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This consular case continues to be a top priority for the Government and substantial resources and time are being devoted to it, by the Taoiseach and myself, by officials in my Department, by our Ambassador and his team in Cairo, and by the wider Irish diplomatic network. The Government is doing everything it possibly can to ensure that the Egyptian authorities are in no doubt about our determination to see this young man returned to his home and his family.

I acknowledge and express my appreciation to the Ceann Comhairle, and to all of the members of the cross-party delegation that went to Cairo recently to meet this citizen and to hear his story at first-hand, and to press the case for his return to Ireland with the Egyptian authorities at the highest levels. These messages have been clearly and repeatedly conveyed by the Government, and it is very useful that the Egyptian authorities are clear on the fact that there is absolute unanimity across Dáil Éireann on this matter.

The Taoiseach has spoken directly and personally with Egyptian President el-Sisi on numerous occasions now calling on him to exercise his powers under Egyptian law to resolve this case and return this young man to Ireland. He has done so in face-to-face meetings on two occasions and also by telephone and by letter. The Taoiseach most recently wrote to President el-Sisi about the case in November. For my part, I have engaged continuously on this case with my Egyptian counterpart, Foreign Minister Shoukry, and I once again raised this case with him when I met him in Paris at the Middle East Peace Conference on Sunday, January 15th.

The trial in which our citizen is a defendant along with more than 400 others was back in court for a further hearing on 17 January. The hearing saw witnesses called and cross-examined for the first time since the trial began. This may be an indication that the trial has now, at last, moved into a substantive phase and that a conclusion may finally be in prospect. The Irish Government has been present at and has observed every hearing in the trial to date and our Embassy was again represented at the hearing on 17 January. The next hearing will be on 14 February and the Embassy will once again be present on that occasion to observe the proceedings.

The Egyptian President has consistently advised us that the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary must be respected, and that the Egyptian Government cannot intervene while the case remains before the courts. The President has also consistently made clear to us that he is anxious to resolve this issue as soon as he can, and that he will be able to intervene in the case once the trial has ended. I welcome the fact that he reiterated this to the Oireachtas delegation when they met with him in Cairo on January 11th.

I and my colleagues in Government and our officials at every level will continue to do everything possible and appropriate to engage with the authorities in Cairo on this citizen’s behalf both directly and through and with EU and international partners.

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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68. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he had any dialogue at EU level regarding addressing the urgent situation whereby members of civil society are at extreme risk in view of the increase in attacks and murders of human rights defenders in Colombia, since the cease fire in August 2016. [3031/17]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The increase in attacks against human rights defenders in Colombia during 2016 is a matter of great concern. The situation is being closely monitored by my Department and by the Embassy of Ireland in Mexico, which is accredited to Colombia. I condemn unreservedly any intimidation or violence perpetrated against human rights defenders in Colombia or elsewhere. I firmly believe that the Colombian peace process, which aims to create a virtuous circle between peacebuilding and respect for human rights, provides the framework in which the endemic violence which has afflicted Colombian society can successfully be addressed.

I had the opportunity to discuss the peace process in Colombia with my EU colleagues and with the President of Colombia, Mr Juan Manuel Santos, at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 12 December. The EU Special Envoy to the Colombian Peace Process, Mr Eamon Gilmore, also participated in our discussion. I made clear the importance Ireland attaches to supporting the implementation of the peace agreement, and noted the need for all parties to the process to maintain momentum and to ensure that the citizens of Colombia begin to see evidence of a peace dividend.

Ireland is a founder member and one of the largest contributors to the EU Trust Fund for Colombia. We have committed to providing €3 million in funding over the lifetime of the Fund, which aims to support the implementation of the peace agreement. Ireland has been closely involved in discussion of its strategic direction and advocated a strong human rights perspective for the Fund, in keeping with our commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights internationally. We will continue to prioritise this issue as the agreement between the Government of Colombia and the FARC is implemented in the months and years ahead.

Officials from my Department regularly meet representatives of human rights organisations active in Colombia. Most recently, in November 2016, they hosted a delegation from Peace Brigades International to discuss the worrying increase in violence against local leaders and human rights defenders in Colombia to which the Deputy refers.

Officials from our Embassy in Mexico also regularly interact with organisations working to promote and defend human rights in Colombia. Ireland has provided more than €5 million to international and local civil society organizations in Colombia since 2009, including to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Christian Aid, amongst others. In addition, Ireland regularly raises issues relating to human rights directly in Bogotá and via the UN and European Union.

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