8 DFómh 2014, 16:10
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade meets tomorrow with the Colombian Ambassador to Ireland, HE Nestor Osorio.
8 October 2014
The meeting will focus on areas of mutual concern between Ireland and Colombia, including:
- The peace process negotiations between the Colombian Government and FARC
- The ratification of the EU Colombia/Peru Free Trade Agreement.
- Irish business interests in Colombia
- Human rights issues
Chairman of the Committee Pat Breen says: “Tomorrow’s meeting will provide a valuable opportunity to hear from the Colombian Ambassador to Ireland on areas of mutual interest. Colombia is emerging from brutal 50-year conflict and the Committee will be keen to assess the progress in the peace process negotiations between Mr Osorio’s government and FARC paramilitaries. While noting the positive developments in the area of human rights by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Committee will be keen to assess the Colombian government’s response to violations of the right to life, weaknesses in the justice system, inadequate response to extrajudicial killings and other issues including the on-going activities of guerrilla groups and post-demobilisation groups.
“The Committee will also be keen to assess the Colombian government’s approach to the Free Trade Agreement with the European Union, which includes binding provisions on Human Rights, labour issues and environmental protection. The Agreement sets out to contribute to improving social conditions and increasing the economic capacity to pursue environmental policies. The Committee looks forward to exploring whether such an Agreement might assist in unleashing Colombia’s vast economic potential.”
The meeting commences tomorrow Thursday 9 October at 10 am in Committee Room 3, LH 2000. It can be viewed online here.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
Media enquiries to:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade
Deputies:
Pat Breen, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, Labour
Bernard Durkan, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Seán Crowe, Sinn Féin
Olivia Mitchell, Fine Gael
Gerald Nash, Labour
Dan Neville, Fine Gael
Brendan Smith, Fianna Fáil
Maureen O’Sullivan, Independent
Senators:
Mark Daly, Fianna Fáil
Lorraine Higgins, Labour
Michael Mullins, Fine Gael
David Norris, Independent
Jim Walsh, Fianna Fáil