Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I read the Minister's speech. All things being equal, it would have been a reasonable speech but for the actions of 1 October, which changed things drastically. People around the world were rightly shocked to see a modern state, a member state of the EU, use brutal police violence to stop EU citizens in Catalonia from exercising their right to vote in a referendum called by the Catalan regional government. They were shocked to hear of the raids of political activists, organisers and media organisations. On the day on which the declaration of independence was expected, people were fearful of returning to their homes lest they would be raided at night. This is the type of fear that is being generated throughout Catalonia within the pro-independence movement.

The silence of Brussels on this disgraceful episode was deafening. Where there have been some general rejections of violence, including by the Taoiseach, and general talk of the need for dialogue, this was a fudge. It completely ignored what happened on the day, which changed things. The violence was not general. It came from one side only, namely, the Civil Guard on the order of the Spanish Government. The violence by the Spanish state should have been condemned, with no beating around the bush. Similarly, general talk of the need for dialogue is mealy-mouthed as it was the Rajoy Government that refused to talk. Its refusal to engage in dialogue should be condemned without equivocation.

As in the case of the independence referendum in Scotland, this issue raises the issue of the position of the EU on the right to nations to self-determination. This right is a key part of the UN's charter on human rights. It has the status of international law and, therefore, can be viewed, legally, as part of EU law even though there is no direct reference to it in the EU treaties. This is an issue the EU must deal with. A second referendum will take place in Scotland at some point in the future. A hard Brexit can quickly change the mood in Scotland.

There is now a crisis in Spain brought about by the intransigence of the political elite in Spain. The brutal attempted repression of the referendum will no doubt increase support for the independence in Catalonia. The imposition of direct rule will not resolve the issues, rather it will increase polarisation. This morning, I listened to teachers, fire-fighters and Catalan police state they will not accept the rule of law of Spain and that they are governed by the Catalan regional parliament. As we know in this country, the national question is not easily resolved. It is a complex issue. One person's right to self-determination can often mean the denial of the same right to another. It is not just a matter of law, whether national, EU or international. It is also not just a matter of who has a majority, even in a democratic vote. Those who believe a Border poll in Ireland will resolve the issue here are ignoring the reality of the past 100 years, never mind the period of the so-called Troubles.

The Government and this Parliament should without equivocation condemn the actions of the Spanish Government and the use of police violence and repression against peaceful citizens of the EU. We must condemn the arrest and imprisonment of Catalan politicians and activists for expressing their legitimate political views and their right to assemble on the streets of Spain. We must condemn the imposition of direct rule and the overthrow of the democratically-elected Catalan regional government and should call on the Spanish Government to immediately engage in dialogue without preconditions and with mutual respect for the Catalonian people.

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