Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach did not answer the substance of the question on Catalonia, which concerned the individuals who are being imprisoned. People are in exile in Brussels. The Taoiseach mentioned the chance for Catalans to participate in the upcoming election, but the government of Catalonia will be in jail and will not be able to participate democratically in those elections. I understand the Taoiseach is laden down with diplomatic concerns and he has a responsibility in his articulation to take those into consideration. There must also be a moral responsibility when faced with such an affront to democracy in a partnership member state. Not being able to comment on the jailing of democratically elected representatives for being democratic is wrong. It is as simple as that, no more, no less.

With regard to special status and Brexit, this is about the economic integrity of the island of Ireland. It seems the European Union is far more ambitious than this Government in that space. Is it not necessary to make special status a red-line matter for this Government in its negotiations?

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