Government ‘ignoring’ plea not to sign EU-Colombia trade deal

Pleas to the Government to hold off ratifying a trade deal that could ruin some of the world’s most vulnerable farmers are being ignored.

Aid agencies and human rights groups want Ireland to stall on signing the EU free trade agreement with Colombia which they say will put that country’s oppressed agricultural communities in peril and undermine its fragile peace process.

Ireland is the only country left to sign the agreement which Karol Balfe, human rights adviser at Christian Aid Ireland, said would cause a flood of agricultural imports from the EU.