Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2022
143. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if coal from the Cerrejón mine in Colombia is being imported to Ireland for use by the ESB; if not, if there are plans to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22881/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, matters relating specifically to the import and export of coal, and policy in this regard, do not fall under the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
However, I am aware that issues have been raised by NGOs around the operation of the Cerrejon mine, and my Department has been following developments closely.
Ireland takes a very active role in supporting human rights defenders, open civil society space and the protection and promotion of fundamental rights and freedoms in Colombia.
The Embassy of Ireland in Bogotá has visited the region of La Guajira, where the mine is located, and the mine itself. The Embassy has maintained regular contact with all relevant stakeholders in order to gain a greater understanding of the circumstances and issues around the Cerrejon mine, and has also engaged with stakeholders through the EU Delegation in Colombia.
I can assure the Deputy that officials in my Department in Dublin and at our Embassy in Bogotá will continue to monitor the human rights situation in the region of La Guajira and across Colombia, and engage on these issues.
We recognise that addressing social, land-related and environmental issues is an essential component of Colombia’s peace process and we remain committed to supporting Colombia in the comprehensive implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement and its transition to a stable, peaceful, post-conflict society, including by means of funding channelled through the EU, the UN and various NGOs operating in-country.
More broadly, in the area of business and human rights, my Department works closely with the multi-stakeholder Implementation Group for the National Plan on Business and Human Rights. This Group regularly engages with experts and considers best practice. Most recently, at the Group’s request, my Department’s Civil Society Forum, which took place on 27 April, included a session on the EU draft Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence.
