I thank the Social Democrats for bringing this forward this morning. The truth is we cannot have a situation where the world stands idly by but that is what has been happening, not just in the couple of years since Israel started bombarding Gaza but for decades. For more than half a century, we have seen Israel treat the Palestinian people as not just second class but as third- and fourth-class citizens. People have been mutilated in their own homes. I am often struck by the fact that soccer and football, certainly in working class communities, bring everybody together, particularly those who come from different ethnic backgrounds. We see kids of all races and creeds coming together to play football. It brings huge energy and positivity to society, here in Ireland and around the globe. Yet, here we find it being used as something negative. Genocide and murder are being hidden behind soccer, a game that is so positive. The Government has a job of work to do here. We have to recognise that this is not about the rules of international football; this is about politics. It is about whether we take a stand. It was very interesting to hear about a neutral venue. I think it was Desmond Tutu who said to claim neutrality in the time of oppression is to stand on the side of the oppressor. That is exactly what is being done here with this talk of neutrality. There is no such thing as a neutral venue. There is no such thing as a Government being neutral in a time of oppression. You have to either stand with the oppressed or stand with the oppressor. That is the choice we have here, and the choice which, unfortunately, the players may have to make at some point if the Government and others do not stand up to what is happening. Of course, there may be consequences. However, those consequences are minor compared to the consequence of the loss of one child, never mind 22,000 children who have lost their lives since this conflict erupted in its most recent form in Gaza. Many soccer clubs affiliated with the Israel Football Association are located in occupied territories, on land which was stolen in the West Bank from Palestinian people. They are illegal soccer organisations, yet FIFA and World Soccer are doing nothing about it. The Government has an opportunity to stand with the oppressed, and that is what it has to do. That is what is required of a Government which claims to be in favour of international law and ensuring standards are applied equally and fairly. If they are applied equally and fairly, we should be applying them in the same way to the Israelis as we apply them to the Russians, applied them to the Yugoslavians and South Africans and would apply them to any other terrorist organisation around the world which claims to be a government. There are Jewish people around the world and in Ireland - I met a couple of them recently - who are totally outraged by what is happening in Israel. They are very annoyed it is being done in their name. Zionism is a different thing altogether from the Jewish communities around the world who are being plagued by what is happening in Israel. It is totally wrong, and the Minister and Government need to stand up and say "Stop the game", so that we can truly identify with the people being oppressed in Gaza and the West Bank.

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