Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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26. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that ETA has announced that, on 8 April 2017, it will decommission its weapons; his views on whether the Spanish Government should seize this historic moment and enter into a formal peace process to deal with other outstanding issues, especially concerning prisoners; and if he will offer his Department's support to any initiative to establish a formal peace process. [18577/17]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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I tabled this question after the historic decision by the Basque separatist organisation ETA to decommission all its remaining weapons. On Saturday, an international verification commission received information from Basque civil society representatives on eight weapons dumps that contained all ETA's remaining weapons. This comes six years after ETA declared an end to its armed struggle. There are still considerable and unresolved issues. To find a resolution to outstanding issues, the Spanish and French Governments need to enter formal dialogue that will lead to negotiation. Given Ireland's own successful approach, will the Minister formally raise this issue with the Spanish and French Governments?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I assure the Deputy that the Government has supported and encouraged efforts aimed at securing peace and stability in the Basque country. The Government welcomed the declaration by ETA of October 2011 that the organisation had decided on "a definitive cession of its armed activity". I issued a statement last Saturday welcoming the decision of ETA to decommission its weapons.

I stated that this was a significant and welcome step towards the disbandment of a terrorist organisation that has inflicted great suffering on the people in two fellow EU member states, France and Spain.

I repeat here that democracy and dialogue are the only legitimate means of resolving conflict. We must also never forget the victims of terrorism; those who have died and those for whom pain and suffering still endure.

We will, of course, continue to support peace and stability but further steps which might be taken are not primarily matters for the Irish Government. I assure the House that we will keep a close eye on the situation in the Basque region and in France and Spain, as well as on the consequences in respect of that peace process.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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ETA's disarming came about through a unique collaboration between international organisation and a vast array of civil society actors, ranging from churches to trade unions. The Archbishop of Bologna, Monsignor Matteo Zuppi, and the Rev. Harold Good from the North of Ireland witnessed ETA's decommissioning. Will the Minister join me in commending them on their work and all the work of those volunteers who facilitated this process?

Unfortunately, up until now the Spanish Government has dramatically refused to recognise the international verification commission and has stated its opposition to any involvement by third-party mediators. In a bizarre twist, instead of working towards a peace process, the Spanish Government went out of its way to place obstacles in front of ETA giving up its weapons. In December, five members of Basque civil society, who were aiding the peace process and dealing with the issue of decommissioning, were arrested by French police after a request from the Spanish Government.

The Minister stated he welcomed this significant peace initiative. Does the Government see any leadership role in this peace building for the Spanish and French Governments in order to build a fair, comprehensive and irreversible peace in the Basque country and will the Minister join me in calling for an end to the repressive policy and punishment and dispersal of more than 300 Basque prisoners in jails hundreds of kilometres away from the homes?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I have already stated the Irish Government supports any development towards peace and stability. While I agree with the Deputy that there are circumstances in which the experience of our own peace process on the island of Ireland can provide insight and perspective, obviously the Deputy will agree with me that each conflict situation has its own specific characteristics and its own requirements. There is no universal or easily transferable formula to be drawn down.

I wish to assure the Deputy. Indeed, I note the statements over the weekend of my counterpart, the French Foreign Minister, as well as statements of the Spanish Government. We will, of course, continue to offer support for peace and stability but any particular further steps which might be taken are not matters primarily for the Irish Government.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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I accept they are not primarily roles for the Irish Government but would the Minister agree that this initiative by ETA is a unique opportunity that must not be squandered? Does the Minister see a leadership or important interventionist role for the Irish Government in this matter? Will the Irish Government appeal to the Spanish and French Governments to demonstrate a more positive approach in their response to these developments, and as I said, for the Spanish Government to adopt a different approach to those Basque politically motivated prisoners? I again ask whether the Minister sees a positive intervention role for Ireland. Many Irish politicians have tried to lend their weight to bringing about a process and up until now, the Spanish Government has been reluctant to get involved in this initiative. On the back of the positive developments at the weekend, is there not something more the Government could be doing?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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We will continue to offer any assistance that might in the circumstances be required. If the Deputy is urging the Irish Government to take an interventionist role in this, that certainly would not be the intention of the Irish Government. We will continue to support the peace process. We will continue to encourage all and any efforts aimed at securing peace and stability in the region but it is certainly not for us to pronounce on what a fellow EU government should or should not do in these circumstances. However, I acknowledge the work of those individuals who have been referenced by the Deputy.