Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On Monday, Mr. Artur Mas, the former president of Catalonia, along with two former Ministers, came before the High Court in Barcelona for a five-day trial. Tens of thousands attended the demonstration in support of the defendants, who are being prosecuted for helping to organise a non-binding vote on independence in 2014 in which more than 2 million people voted. The vote took place because the Spanish Government refused to facilitate a democratic vote on Catalan independence. The impressive turnout sent a clear message that the Catalan people want a democratic, legal and binding referendum to be held. They are being accused of civil disobedience for organising an informal independence consultation. If found guilty, they could be banned from public office for ten years.

There is also the continued prosecution of the speaker of the Catalan parliament, Ms Carme Forcadell, for facilitating a debate and vote on independence in the Catalan Parliament. The prosecution of democratically elected politicians for holding popular polls and consultations puts at risk the very democratic standards that people hold dear throughout the world. We should send a very strong statement from the House that we do not agree with what is happening. I call on the Leader to facilitate a discussion on the prosecution of politicians in Catalonia for supporting a democratic vote on independence. I also ask him to call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come to the House to outline the Government's stance on this issue.