John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

18. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the engagements that the Government has had with the new government in Colombia, particularly in the area of human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49017/22]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

40. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has made contact with the newly-elected government of Colombia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49070/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 40 together.

Since its formation over the summer, the Government has continued the pattern of active engagement with the new government in Colombia, in line with the Global Ireland 'Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean to 2025'.

I met with the new Colombian Foreign Minister, Álvaro Leyva, at the United Nations in September. We discussed many areas of our relationship, including Ireland's support for Colombia's peace process.

Minister of State Feighan represented the Government at the August inauguration of President Petro, meeting Colombia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Health, and the President of the Colombian Congress.

The Colombian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Cecilia López, visited Ireland last week for the OECD Rural Development conference. She met with President Higgins, and on the margins of the conference, Minister McConalogue and with Minister Humphreys.

The Ambassador of Ireland in Bogota has met new Colombian Ministers, including with EU partners, and discussed various issues related to the bilateral agenda and the EU-Colombia relationship, including areas for increased cooperation. Ireland, including as an EU Member State, maintains an ongoing dialogue with the Colombian Government on human rights and will continue to fulfil our commitment to provide support in this area.

Through the Irish Aid programme, Ireland is supporting human rights defenders, indigenous communities and civil society space in Colombia, all closely linked to the effective implementation of the Colombian Peace Agreement. Support for Colombia’s peace process is a key pillar of our bilateral relationship. Between 2016 and 2021, Ireland provided almost €17 million to Colombia, to enable implementation of the peace agreement, as well as human rights, broader conflict prevention and peacebuilding, and supporting Venezuelan migrants.

I welcome the commitment of the incoming government to comprehensive implementation of the Peace Agreement and have communicated our support to these efforts to the new administration.