John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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124. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the impact that the result of the recent Colombian presidential elections will have on the Colombian peace process; the actions that Ireland is taking as part of the United Nations Security Council on the Colombian peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32924/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate President-elect of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, and Vice-President elect Francia Marquez, on their historic victory in the Colombian presidential elections last Sunday 19 June.  I look forward to continuing the excellent relationship that Ireland and Colombia have built together over many years.

Supporting the implementation of the Colombian Peace Agreement is a key pillar of our relationship. I welcome President-elect Petro’s indications that he will support the continued implementation of the Agreement. Ireland, together with our EU partners and other international community partners, will continue to work with all stakeholders to highlight the importance of comprehensive implementation of the Peace Agreement and to support the new administration in addressing the remaining issues.

Since the signing of the Agreement in 2016, Ireland has provided just under €17 million in funding towards its implementation. We were founding members of both the EU and UN Trust Funds for peace, and have engaged in a Lesson Sharing Programme with Colombia around peacebuilding in Northern Ireland.

Ireland’s seat on the UN Security Council has allowed us to deepen our engagement. In our statements to the Council, Ireland has consistently called for comprehensive implementation of the Agreement, recognising the significant advances that have been made. We have expressed concern about ongoing violence, particularly against social leaders, human rights defenders and former combatants, and called for the implementation of the Agreement’s provisions on gender and ethnicity as well as the use of all spaces for dialogue established by the Agreement.

Ireland has also been a strong supporter of the transitional-justice system. With crucial milestones ahead this year, we will continue to use our voice on the Security Council to encourage the international community to play its important supportive role.

Ireland’s recently launched Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean contains a firm commitment to continue this support for the Colombian peace process in the long term.