Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the Basque peace process; and if in his view the political party Batasuna should now be removed from the EU blacklist of so-called terrorist organisations. [25201/06]

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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In replies to parliamentary questions on this subject on 4 April, the Minister for Foreign Affairs welcomed the announcement by ETA of a permanent ceasefire from 24 March. He also made it clear that next steps in the process were purely a matter for the Spanish Government and elected representatives to consider.

Today the Spanish Prime Minister, Mr.Zapatero, spoke to the media on the Spanish Government's assessment of the ceasefire and on possible next steps in the process. I await a report from the Irish Embassy in Madrid on this. Those steps could include Spanish Government contacts with ETA and arrangements for talks between political groups. Political parties that are in conformity with Spain's law on political parties, including its provisions on support for violence or legitimisation or terrorist actions, would be eligible to take part.

The Batasuna political party was made illegal in Spain following a judgment of the Spanish Supreme Court in March 2003 in the framework of the law on political parties. Batasuna was subsequently added to the EU list of terrorist organisations on 4 June 2003 by a unanimous decision of the EU member states. Removal of Batasuna from the list would require, in the first instance, an initiative by the member state most concerned. Any request in that context and against the background of the awaited report by the Spanish Prime Minister to the Spanish Parliament would be carefully considered at all levels by Ireland and the EU.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Does the Minister of State agree that the placing of Batasuna on the EU black list has involved other member state Governments, including the Irish, in an exclusionary approach? The Minister of State claims this is a matter for Spain alone. It is not because it is an EU-wide decision to put Batasuna on a blacklist. This is not helpful for the situation developing in the Basque country.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Does the Deputy have a question?

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I asked if the Minister of State agrees. That is a question.

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Batasuna is a political party, deemed by the Spanish Supreme Court to be operating illegally. The report was transferred to the EU where a decision was taken after much deliberation. It is now a matter for the Spanish authorities in the first instance to deal with the situation and satisfy itself as to the veracity and commitment of Batasuna to political activity only, as distinct from terrorist activity. We cannot pre-empt——

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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It is an EU decision.

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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——the integrity of the sovereign state of Spain to deal with this matter in the first instance.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Or our sovereignty also.

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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We have no right to make a presumption about activity——

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Yes, the Minister of State does. He makes many presumptions. He just made one about Indonesia.

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Ó Snodaigh's party is still the subject of investigation by the IMC.

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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——in another sovereign state until a report comes forward that is satisfactory to our colleagues in the European Union and ourselves.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister of State just made presumptions about other matters such as Palestine.

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy can rest assured——

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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We have not verified Deputy Ó Snodaigh's party yet.

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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——that the Taoiseach has had discussions pertaining to assisting Prime Minister Zapatero in this situation. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, and I, with my European colleagues and Fr. Alex Reid have been involved in assisting the situation in Spain.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I know who is involved.

Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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It is important that we await the evolution of the process in Spain and a final report from the Spanish Government through our embassy before we take a broader, conclusive view of that situation.