One of our senior Government members says he believes in Catalan independence, but it has to be peaceful.
Junior Enterprise Minister John Halligan is contradicting the Taoiseach who claimed Ireland wouldn't recognise the result of the Catalonian referendum which voted in favour of separating from Spain.
The region's sacked President is due to make a public appearance in Belgium today after being charged with rebellion.
But Waterford's John Halligan says he agrees with him:
"I personally believe in Catalonian independence; I always have and I always will.
"I believe they have their own identity, they have their own heritage, they have their own culture.
"It goes way back hundreds and hundreds of years.
"What I would say is that whatever happens, it has to be done peacefully."
