Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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27. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the treatment of certain Basque prisoners in the Spanish state and their mistreatment, in particular the practice of transferring them to prisons long distances from their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36343/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Policy on the placement and treatment of a country’s nationals in prison in the European Union is a matter for the democratically-elected government and the relevant competent authorities in each member state in accordance with domestic, European and international law. Issues relating to Basque prisoners held in Spain are, therefore, exclusively a matter for the Spanish Government and judiciary and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on them in any way.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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The dispersal policy is a special discriminatory one applied by successive Spanish and French Governments for nearly three decades to Basque political prisoners. The dispersal policy was designed with the aim to uproot the prisoners from their social, emotional and family environments, in addition to denying their right to take part in the political life of their country. There are 354 Basque political prisoners imprisoned in 76 prisons in the Spanish and French states. An example of the distances of travel required by visiting families includes 51 prisoners incarcerated more than 1,000 km from their families and 105 prisoners incarcerated between 800 km and 990 km from their families. The Minister has said he cannot comment on this practice but the same argument could have been made about political prisoners in Belfast in the 1970s and 1980s, that another state could not make a comment because it was an internal matter for the UK. There are human rights abuses going on in this situation and we need a real statement.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I will not depart from what has been long-standing tradition in the House and in the country of commenting in a way the Deputy invites me. On a more general issue, the Government continues to support and encourage all efforts aimed at securing peace and stability in the Basque region. As Deputy Barry is aware, we welcomed the declaration by ETA in October 2011 that the organisation had decided on what it described as a definitive cessation of its armed activity. I welcome this and will continue to encourage all those involved to build on this step, engage and work for a long-term political solution and lasting peace and reconciliation in the Basque area.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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I point out that 11 prisoners have serious illnesses and their families are calling for their release so they can access appropriate medical treatment. The most recent case is that of Joseba Borde who was diagnosed with colon cancer. I state my support for the right of self-determination for the Basque people, which is a cause linked with a political and economic struggle against the right-wing Basque and Spanish Governments. I support such a struggle being waged and common cause been made by ordinary Basques and the other peoples who live in the Spanish state for a voluntary socialist federation of the peoples of the peninsula.

I invite the Minister to make a comment on this. Clearly the idea of a peace process is not in tandem with the brutal treatment being meted out to these people.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I welcome commitments towards the cessation of hostilities and the ending of conflict. We on our island have particular experience of a peace process over a long number of years. I hope all parties involved can see their way towards entering discussions for a lasting peace and stability in the region. It would, however, be inappropriate for me to comment on the individual issues as raised by the Deputy.