Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Taoiseach to comment on what has been dubbed "CatalanGate". This is a very serious scandal in the Spanish state involving a significant number of Catalan politicians and activists, including the Catalan President, legislators and every Catalan MEP who supported independence for Catalonia, being targeted with mercenary spyware. This happened either directly or through suspected off-centre targeting that involves spouses, siblings, staff or parents. The fact that the targeting coincided with political events, namely, the referendum, raises clear suspicions in respect of who would benefit from it and suggests that it was being done by the Spanish state. At least 65 individuals were targeted. The office of the Spanish Prime Minister has claimed it was not aware of the operation but according to the group that produced the spyware programme, known as Pegasus, it is sold exclusively to governments. That, among other reasons, implies the Spanish state was responsible. Does the Taoiseach agree this would represent a very serious infringement of the democratic rights of people to campaign for Catalan independence? Does he agree there should be an official inquiry to determine who authorised the hacking?

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