Council supports Catalan people
COUNCILLORS voted unanimously to send a letter of support to the people of Catalonia following the actions of police and the Madrid Government, following the region’s recent independence referendum.
In a motion Cllr Fionntáin Ó Suilleabháin called for Wexford County Council to send its solidarity to the parliament and people of Catalonia following the actions after the recent referendum. Cllr Ó Suilleabháin said: ‘It’s very hard to imagine that in 2017 900 people could be injured while casting a vote.’
Cllr Deirdre Wadding seconded the motion. Cllr Pip Breen said he found it strange that one year on from when Ireland celebrated its rebellion centenary when a united Ireland was fought for, that the council should be supporting a motion calling for a divided Spain. He said 200,000 people marched in Spain for a united country the previous weekend.
Cllr Keith Doyle said the way the Catalan people were treated was bordering on fascism. He said: ‘We can’t get into a situation where we are having solidarity with a parliament.’
Cllr Malcolm Byrne described the actions of the Madrid Government as completely counter productive and wrong. ‘I have friends in Barcelona and my sister lives in Madrid. My view is that we should send out a message to say that we don’t condone the actions.’
Cllr Robbie Ireton said the council should mind its own business and stay out of internal Spanish politics. ‘It’s nothing to do with this county and its people. If he wants to make a statement let him away with it.’
Cllr Deirdre Wadding said Ireland spent last year celebrating the self determination of our nation in breaking away from an imperial power. ‘Spanish history is extremely imperial,’ she said, adding that the Catalan people, through their language and culture, qualify and meet the criteria of being their own nation. ‘We should be supporting the self determination of a people who voted 90 per cent in favour of having an independent nation. Our country was born in a revolution so I support this call.’
Cllr Michael Sheehan also harkened back to 1916 when, he said, a group of renegades who didn’t have the support of the people rose up and won independence. Cllr Davy Hynes agreed that the rights of a people to self determination is something that councillors should support. Cllr Oisin O’Connell said the ugliness has been on the side of the Madrid government.
Cllr Byrne seconded the motion, which was passed by majority.