Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 33: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in a public declaration by a number of leading international and national figures, including Bertie Ahern, Gerry Adams, Kofi Annan, Gro Harlem Bruntland, Pierre Joxe and Jonathan Powell at a public conference in San Sebastian on 17 October 2011, representatives called for support to advance the Basque Peace Process by calling upon ETA to make a public declaration of the definitive cessation of all armed action and to request talks with the Governments of Spain and France to address exclusively the consequences of the conflict; and in view of the fact that since this declaration the Basque militant group ETA has committed itself to a total and definitive ending of all armed actions, if he will support these developments and encourage the Spanish and French Governments to a process of inclusive talks with all actors and political representatives in the Basque Country, in order to further develop the peace process. [2575/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I have closely followed developments relating to the Basque country, including the public declaration at the San Sebastian conference on 17 October 2011 referred to by the Deputy, and the subsequent declaration by ETA on 20 October 2011 that the organisation had "decided on the definitive cessation of its armed activity". As I have said previously, the Government supports any development that could lead to definitive peace in the Basque country and I welcome the declaration by ETA on 20 October 2011 in this context. The declaration by ETA was welcomed by the leaders of all political parties in Spain as good news, as a victory for the rule of law and as a result of the determination of successive Spanish Governments to put an end to violence.

The new Spanish Government, led by Mariano Rajoy, which took office in late December, is undoubtedly now examining the situation and taking account of all relevant developments, including the content of the ETA declaration. It will need to determine how best to move forward, including on the question of any possible process of dialogue involving relevant political representatives. The outcome of the Spanish general election in November has resulted in the full range of Basque nationalist opinion being represented in the new Spanish Parliament. It is to be hoped that this can result in further progress and in the relevant actors moving forward in accordance with democratic principles and the rule of law.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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The intervention at the international conference in San Sebastian last October was a key one, particularly as it included figures from the Irish peace process, Kofi Annan and Jonathan Powell, the former chief of staff under Tony Blair. This was a key intervention to which there has been a positive response. As in the case of the Irish peace process, the next step is to definitively demonstrate to those in the Basque country who wish to secure independence - I refer specifically to young people - and have their rights, especially cultural rights, fully recognised that there is a different way forward and an alternative to violence. We learned to our initial cost that it is critical to have engagement with the key players following this type of announcement. Will the Tánaiste call on the French and Spanish Governments to engage with the key protagonists in the Basque country to move the position forward?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The ending of violence by ETA is very welcome. As the Deputy stated, the way forward in pursuing political objectives should be peaceful and democratic and all of those involved should reject the use of violence. I welcome the statement that was made by ETA arising from the declaration made at the San Sebastian conference which contained five different elements or objectives. It is, in the first instance, a matter for the Spanish Government to respond to the statement. A new Government has recently been elected in Spain and will reflect on it. All of the political parties in Spain welcomed the cessation of violence and I hope the matter can be progressed and all the parties can participate in it.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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The Tánaiste will agree that because of our relatively recent experience we are well qualified to constructively assist the Spanish Government and the people of the Basque country in finding a lasting solution. In the recent parliamentary elections, to which the Tánaiste alluded, a cross-section of Members of the Spanish Parliament was elected in the Basque country which was representative of its different strands of opinion. I urge the Tánaiste, whether on the floor of the House or in private, to encourage the new Spanish Government to take this home and to once and for all demonstrate that there is a pathway for addressing concerns, including, as happened in the Irish peace process, those relating to prisoners, and moving forward on a peaceful and democratic basis that addresses the needs of the people of the Basque country. I also urge him, either on the record or privately, to communicate to the Spanish Government that this key initiative has created a momentum and offers a great opportunity to realise what would be a key objective of any Spanish Government, namely, to take this issue home once and for all.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It is important that we in this House recognise it is a matter for Spain and the Spanish Government as to how to respond. If one lesson was learned in the Northern Ireland peace process, to which the Deputy referred, it is very much that the initiative needs to be left to the countries concerned. In the first instance, this is now a matter for the Spanish Government. Prior to the general election, all of the political parties in Spain welcomed the statement. As I stated, it is a matter for the Spanish Government to reflect on how the issue is to be taken forward. As a State and Government, the first thing that we need to do is recognise that this is a matter for Spain.

The declaration made in San Sebastian was a non-governmental statement made by individuals who were drawing on their own experience and acting in their individual capacities. As I stated, the declaration has a number of elements. It made the point that if an announcement of a cessation of violence were made, it requested the Governments of Spain and France to welcome it, which they have done, and accept the initiation of talks with a view to dealing exclusively with the consequences of the conflict. The statement goes on to deal with a number of other elements of the conflict but as I said, that is a matter for the Spanish Government to reflect on and to respond.