Written answers
Thursday, 27 April 2023
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Human Rights
Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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20. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware that human rights campaigners that will be outside the AGM of a company (details supplied) in Ballsbridge on 28 April 2023 to highlight the appalling impact of the company's operations in Colombia on the land rights of the indigenous Misak people, on the environment and on human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19869/23]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland takes a very active role in supporting human rights defenders, indigenous communities and civil society space in Colombia. Engagement on these issues is a strong component of our bilateral relations with Colombia and our support to the Colombian Peace Process.
Since the signing of the Colombian Peace Agreement in 2016, Ireland has provided over €20 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.
We fully support the Colombian Government’s new “Total Peace” policy, which aims to consolidate and extend peace to all parts of the country where violence persists. Ireland also fully supports the efforts of the Colombian Government to implement land reforms in order to improve equality of land access in Colombia, and to protect the environment.
In reference to the issues raised by the Deputy, my Department has engaged closely with the communities and the company involved. This is a complex and multi-faceted situation, with multiple viewpoints at play.
Officials from the Embassy of Ireland in Colombia have visited the region in question and met with stakeholders, most recently in March, to support the facilitation of a dialogue process. This dialogue is proceeding through engagement locally with all relevant stakeholders, including the communities and company involved, the Government in Colombia, and non-governmental organisations.
I would encourage all parties to engage constructively in this dialogue process. I hope that this will result in a long-term and inclusive solution that respects the rights of all concerned.
I can assure the Deputy that we will continue to closely engage with all parties to these issues, both in Ireland and on the ground through our Embassy in Colombia, as well as in close collaboration with the EU Delegation in Bogotá.
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