Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the Basque basic democratic agreement and table for accord initiative. [18710/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Basque country has extensive autonomous rights in areas including taxation, education, health and policing, in accordance with Spain's 1978 constitution, which provides for the devolution of power to the 17 autonomous communities or regions. In December 2004, the Basque regional parliament approved a plan proposed by the Basque Prime Minister, Juan Jose Ibarretxe, to replace the existing autonomy agreement for the region, which dates from 1979, with a new agreement which would give the Basque country the status of free association with Spain. Under the terms of the plan, the Basque country would gain almost total control of the internal financial and judicial systems, and the right to foreign representation. Mr. Ibarretxe's plan would also allow the people of the Basque country to decide by referendum whether they wished to remain a part of Spain. This plan was rejected by the Spanish Parliament in February this year. However, Prime Minister Zapatero at the same time indicated his Government's willingness to discuss a new statute for the Basque country. I should add that following regional elections on 17 April 2005, a new Basque government has yet to be formed. Mr. Ibarretxe's government continues on a caretaker basis pending the formation of a new government.

In a separate development, on 5 March 2005 a group of Basque organisations, including Batasuna and a number of Basque political parties, trade unions and cultural organisations, signed the Basque basic democratic accord to resolve the Basque conflict. Batasuna has been included on the EU list of terrorist organisations since June 2003 on the basis that it is an alias of ETA. In recent weeks, a group of 15 representatives has formed the table for accord to consult with political parties and civil society on a way forward for the Basque country on the basis of the Democratic accord.

On 17 May 2005, the Spanish Parliament approved a resolution proposed by the Spanish Government authorising it to enter into dialogue with the Basque separatist group ETA, which has been included on the EU's list of terrorist organisations since 27 December 2001. The resolution makes its clear that the focus of the dialogue will be on bringing an end to violence, stating that terrorism is totally incompatible with democracy and that violence cannot yield a political reward.

The resolution requires ETA to renounce violence before the process of dialogue can begin and states that ETA has no other prospect than to dissolve itself and to lay down its arms. As regards the discussions on the wider political issues, the resolution stresses the principle of engaging solely with the legitimately elected representatives of the Basque people. All those who have the interests of the Basque people at heart will hope that these moves will lead to early progress in the resolution of the issues in question.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the jailing of a Batasuna leader by the Spanish authorities; if the Spanish Government's ongoing policy of criminalisation of the Basque independence movement and the exclusion of its democratically elected political leadership will further set back efforts to establish a Basque-Spanish peace process. [18711/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the arrest, and subsequent release on bail, of the Batasuna spokesman Arnaldo Otegi. Mr. Otegi has been charged with membership of ETA, which, as the Deputy will be aware, has been included on the EU list of terrorist organisations since 27 December 2001. By a unanimous decision of the EU member states, Batasuna was added to this list on 4 June 2003. In taking this decision, the Council was satisfied that Batasuna was a terrorist organisation and that it was an alias of ETA. As I understand it, ETA remains engaged in a campaign of violence, and neither ETA nor Batasuna has committed itself to peaceful and democratic means of pursuing their objectives.

Before its designation by the EU, Batasuna was proscribed in Spain following a vote of the Spanish Parliament on 26 August 2002 and a decision of the Spanish Supreme Court on 17 March 2003. As a proscribed organisation, it was not permitted to participate in the regional elections in the Basque country on 17 April 2005.

On 17 May 2005, the Spanish Parliament approved a resolution proposed by the Government authorising it to enter into dialogue with ETA. The resolution makes its clear that the focus of the dialogue will be on bringing an end to violence. It states that terrorism is totally incompatible with democracy and that violence cannot yield a political reward. The resolution requires ETA to renounce violence before the process of dialogue can begin and states that ETA has no other prospect than to dissolve itself and to lay down its arms. As regards the discussions on the wider political issues, the resolution stresses the principle of engaging solely with the legitimately elected representatives of the Basque people.

All who have the interests of the Basque people at heart will hope that these moves will lead to early progress in the resolution of the issues in question.