Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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37. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which concerns on the non-implementation of aspects of the peace agreement in Colombia can be addressed in view of the extent of Irish and EU funding and support for the process. [40122/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has been a committed supporter of the Colombian peace process for many years. We have provided more than €10 million in funding to Colombia since 2007 to protect human rights, prevent conflict, build peace, and support livelihoods for rural populations, including women.

A particular focus for funding last year was supporting the implementation of the Peace Agreements, as well as developing and facilitating lesson-sharing programmes between Colombia and Ireland, building on our own experience of conflict and amounting to more than €2.3 million.

Ireland was a founding member of the EU Trust Fund for Colombia, and continues to provide funding to the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in their work to support the implementation of the peace accords.

While financial contributions are important, also of value is the sharing of our experience of peacebuilding. One of the most important lessons we have learnt in twenty years of implementation of the Good Friday Agreement is how long it takes to build peace, and that it is not a linear process. There have been many periods where the process hit what seemed like unsurmountable obstacles. Nonetheless, we have also seen the importance of the slow and painstaking building up of trust between communities, enabling reconciliation, and embedding a culture of peace.

We support the full implementation of the peace accords in Colombia to ensure a more peaceful future for all Colombians. We have stressed our continued support for the peace process to the government of President Iván Duque, which recently took office, and have outlined that we see our support to Colombia as a long term commitment. The Taoiseach met with President Duque in New York last week and reiterated this commitment.

I look forward to working with the Government of Colombia and with our EU partners to ensure a coordinated and effective approach that best supports the implementation of the peace accords. I am pleased that former Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore will continue in his role as EU Special Envoy to the Peace Process for a further year, and my Department will continue to support him in this work.

I also look forward to the opening of our new Embassy in Bogotá early next year. Having a permanent diplomatic presence on the ground will further enable us to monitor the status of the peace accords closely and to fulfil our commitment to the Government and people of Colombia.