Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2013
12. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the recent arrest of eight young Basque political activists in Donostia San Sebastián and the consequences these political arrests could have on the peace process there and if he will raise the issue with the Spanish Government. [23215/13]
View answerI have closely followed developments in relation to the Basque Country, including the outcome of the San Sebastian Conference in October 2011 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. The matter the Deputy is referring to relates to the arrest on 19 April of eight people in San Sebastian. Six of the individuals in question were arrested as a result of their conviction by the Supreme Court on 9 April of membership of an illegal armed organisation. A further two people were arrested for resisting the police during protests aimed at preventing the arrests of the six people convicted by the Supreme Court. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on these arrests nor to speculate on the possible impact that they might have.
