Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2018
130. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consideration will be given to making contact with the Spanish Government to recommend that the pre-trial Catalan civil and political prisoners are given temporary release over Christmas as a humanitarian confidence building measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53286/18]
View answer131. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Irish officials will attend to monitor proceedings at the trials of the Catalan civil and political prisoners that are expected to be held early in 2019; if he will provide funding to court observers from the NGO sector to monitor proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53287/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together.
The cases referred to by the Deputy are the subject of ongoing judicial proceedings. As such it would not be appropriate for me to make an intervention or statement on the matter. There are no plans for Irish officials to attend these legal proceedings or to provide funding to NGOs to attend. I am kept informed of developments in Catalonia by our Embassy in Madrid on a regular basis.
