Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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103. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on any discussions with his Department and his counterpart in Colombia with regards to the operations of a company (details supplied) and the way that Ireland and Colombia work together to ensure the indigenous Misak people receive justice in their campaign to get their land back; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32947/22]

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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105. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to a recent report published by Observatory of Multinationals in Latin America, SumOfUs and the Latin America Solidarity Centre that has highlighted serious socio-environmental impacts and human rights violations arising from Smurfit Kappa’s operations in Colombia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33162/22]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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109. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been brought to a report (details supplied) which details the impact of the operations of an Irish-headquartered company on indigenous communities and their lands in Colombia; the engagement he or his Departmental representatives have had with representatives of this company on foot of the issues raised in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33070/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 103, 105 and 109 together.

Ireland takes a very active role in supporting human rights defenders, indigenous communities and civil society space in Colombia and engagement on these issues is a strong component of our bilateral relations with Colombia and our support to the Colombian Peace Process.

Ireland is a longstanding supporter of comprehensive implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement, including through engagement locally in Colombia, through our engagement at the UN Security Council, and by funding channelled through the EU, the UN and various non-governmental organisations. Tackling the issues related to land use and environmental rights in Colombia forms a key element of Colombia’s peace process.

I am aware of the situation and the recent report referred to by the Deputies in relation to the Cauca region of Colombia.

The situation in this region, as with many other rural regions in Colombia, is highly complex. Ireland has been actively engaged with all parties with a view to understanding the situation and promoting an inclusive, meaningful dialogue through which the issues may be resolved.

My Department has engaged with representatives of the community and the NGOs mentioned, with the company involved, and with the Government in Colombia on this issue. Officials in my Department met with SumOfUs, the Latin America Solidarity Centre, and an Indigenous leader from the Misak community last month to learn more about their concerns. Our Embassy in Bogota has spoken to the company and has visited the relevant areas of the Cauca region, meeting with local communities and visiting the land in question. The Embassy is due to meet representatives of the Misak community later this month.

In addition, my Department has engaged with the Colombian Government to support a process of dialogue between the authorities, the Misak community and the company to resolve their differences. I understand that the Colombian authorities have subsequently organised meetings with the company and local communities.

We continue to urge the parties concerned to engage in dialogue, to come to an understanding regarding the issues at hand in order to resolve their differences, and if necessary to pursue the relevant legal means to address their concerns. The Department remains open to supporting activities and engagement that will facilitate such dialogue.