Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2014
228. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way he plans to strengthen the human rights article of the EU-Colombian Free Trade Agreement; the efforts he has made to ensure the agreement is consistent with Government policy as set out in One World, One Future: Ireland’s Policy for International Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37187/14]
View answer229. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views that the sustainable development article of the EU free trade agreement with Colombia and Peru will be sufficient in ensuring greater protection of human rights in Colombia; and the actions he has taken to address the significant human rights concerns documented by Irish non-governmental organisations which have shown the sustainable development article is insufficient to ensure the enforcement of rights, citing an absence of adequate monitoring, evaluation and compliance mechanisms. [37188/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together.
Sustainable development and concerns for social and human rights are at the heart of the sustainability chapter of the EU-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. This is emphasised by the fact that Article 1 of the Agreement stipulates that respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights and for the rule of law is an essential element of the Agreement.
The inclusion of a sustainable development chapter in the Agreement provides the EU with an important means to contribute to supporting positive social reforms and to the greater protection of human rights in Colombia. During the negotiation of the Agreement, Ireland strongly promoted the inclusion of provisions to reflect this essential element.
Furthermore, the setting up of a special committee, with representatives from Colombian civil society, to monitor implementation of the sustainability provisions demonstrates how the EU can develop real leverage for promoting its values and expectations through this agreement.
The elaboration by Colombia and Peru of roadmaps on human rights, labour rights and environmental protection in October 2012 clearly demonstrates how the Agreement can incentivise an agenda for change. Against this background, I believe the agreement with Colombia will be instrumental in encouraging economic and social progress reinforced by arrangements that strengthen the voice and role of civil society in favour of the progressive development human and labour rights. This is also recognised by the European Parliament that last year voted to approve the Agreement.
My Department is fully mindful of the need for policy coherence in support of global development objectives. To this end, my Department works closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In this way, there is full coherence between Ireland’s trade and investment policies, and the implementation of Ireland’s development and foreign policy objectives set out in One World, One Future: Ireland’s Policy for International Development.
