Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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20. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Basque Political Prisoners Collective agreed to endorse a peace process strategy and to pursue political objectives through exclusively political means; if he welcomes this step; and if he will discuss the issue with the Spanish Government and encourage them to recognise and reciprocate this valuable contribution. [1437/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I have closely followed developments in relation to the Basque Country since the declaration by ETA on 20 October 2011 that the organisation had "decided on the definitive cessation of its armed activity".

I have also taken careful note of the public statement on 4 January by a group of former ETA prisoners in which they expressed regret for the suffering inflicted on all sides during the ETA campaign and accepted full responsibility for the consequences of the conflict.

As I have stated previously, the Government welcomes and encourages all efforts that are aimed at securing a definitive peace in the Basque Country.