I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes: — that the Irish people are deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East and Gulf region, particularly the situation in Palestine, and that the Government is committed to working with key partners to end the conflict; — that Israeli actions in Palestine consistently contravene international law, and the Government continues to press for appropriate action, both at European Union (EU) and international level, in response to egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles; — Ireland's commitment to working with key partners to end the conflict in Gaza, and to advancing a sustainable peace plan and addressing the huge challenges facing Palestinians in Gaza; — the Government's grave concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, with intolerable conditions; — that Israel must immediately remove restrictions on aid access and facilitate essential supplies and services to reach people across the Gaza Strip; — the Government's condemnation of the law passed by the Israeli parliament to expand the scope of the death penalty and revive its implementation in Israel and occupied Palestine; — the particular concerns about the discriminatory nature of the law as it relates to Palestinians, and that the implementation of this law would give rise to serious breaches of international human rights law and international humanitarian law; — the approval and publication of the text of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026, noting that the Bill fulfils the commitment set out in the Programme for Government, to progress legislation to prohibit the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, and further noting the proposed introduction of the Bill in Dáil Éireann this week; — that, in line with the Taoiseach's statement, Ireland will act to prevent those members of the Government of Israel who have been instrumental in fomenting the unfolding disaster in Gaza, and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has instructed immigration officers to refuse entry to Itamar Ben-Gvir, Minister of National Security of Israel, and Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance of Israel, should they seek to enter Ireland; — Ireland's support of an EU-wide prohibition on trade with Israeli settlements, and that at both the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and the FAC Trade in May, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, requested that the European Commission bring forward proposals for a prohibition on EU trade with settlements, on the basis of the EU's Common Commercial Policy, and furthermore, that the Minister also reiterated Ireland's longstanding position that the EU-Israel Association Agreement should be suspended or, at a minimum, that the trade elements should be suspended; — that a number of other member states supported Ireland's call for stronger collective EU action, and agreed that targeted sanctions alone cannot substitute for meaningful measures relating to trade with illegal settlements; and — that the Taoiseach also wrote to European Council President, António Costa, on 20th May, reiterating Ireland's position on EU trade with Israel, and requesting an urgent discussion of these issues among EU leaders at the next meeting of the European Council on 18-19 June; in relation to sport, further notes that: — the performance and integrity of our top athletes on the international stage have a very positive representational impact for Ireland, as Irish sport provides the world with a window into Ireland and the Irish people, both at home and abroad; — international success for our top sports people enriches our country in a variety of ways, and Ireland's achievements on the global sporting stage have been a cause of both celebration and inspiration for the Irish public, and will continue to be so into the future; and — the Government is committed to supporting Irish athletes competing at the highest level of international competition; and recognises that: — national governing bodies of sport, such as the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of sporting fixtures, whether in domestic or international competitions; — it is the role of the FAI to decide to fulfil its UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel in September (home) and October (away); — the FAI has stated that it intends to fulfil both fixtures against Israel; — the FAI has made this decision in accordance with its obligations as a member of UEFA, the governing body and confederation for football in Europe; and — the Government acknowledges the FAI's independence and autonomy in arriving at this decision and any decisions it may make in the coming days.". I thank the Deputies for raising an issue of considerable importance to all of us. Nobody on this side of the House in any way disagrees with the sentiment they express about the atrocities that have been committed against a humble, innocent group of people. We differ on the specific issue but not on the meat or about the seriousness of what is happening. That is the case for the Irish people, who are deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf region, particularly the situation in Palestine. The Government is committed to working with key partners to end the conflict and to advance a sustainable peace plan. Israeli actions in Palestine consistently contravene international law and the Government continues to press for appropriate action at EU and international level in response to egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles. Last year, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory called it out for what it is. Having examined carefully Israel's conduct of the war since 2023, as well as the actions and statements of senior Israeli military and political figures, it concluded that Israel is responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza. That is the gravest of crimes in international law. The Government calls on Israel to immediately remove restrictions on aid access to facilitate essential supplies and services reaching people across Gaza. There have been many calls for Irish sporting organisations to boycott or exclude Israel from international sporting competitions in the context of the conflict in Gaza. These include calls to the FAI not to fulfil its UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel this autumn. It is important to note, however, that the national governing bodies of sport, such as the FAI, are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of sporting fixtures in domestic or intentional competitions. That is a fact we cannot ignore. The Government and Sport Ireland have no role in determining or supporting the organisation of such fixtures. At the end of the day, neither the Government nor any of us here in this Chamber decides who plays whom in sport, whether at domestic or international level, notwithstanding the point that politics is involved in everything. Public opinion and our opinion is involved in everything but we have no role in making those decisions. If we were to suggest that we had a role, it would be considered by others as overreach. We must be careful what we are advocating for. Not responding to that request in no way limits the empathy of those on this side of the House or reduces the disgust and distress that we too feel about the atrocities that have been perpetrated on innocent civilians in that zone. The FAI has stated that it intends to fulfil both fixtures against Israel in accordance with its obligations as a member of UEFA. The Government acknowledges the FAI's independence and autonomy in arriving at this decision and any decisions it may make in the coming days. The performance and integrity of our top athletes on the international stage have a positive representational impact for Ireland as Irish sport provides the world with a window into Ireland and the Irish people at home and abroad. International successes for our top sportspeople enriches our country in a variety of ways. Many of our fondest memories are centred on Ireland's achievements on the global sporting stage. These achievements have been a cause of celebration and inspiration for the public, and will continue to be into the future. That is why the Government is fully supportive of our athletes competing at the highest level of international competition. However, ultimately international sporting federations are responsible for deciding how to carry out their competitions and who may participate. International federations, in this case UEFA, have a leadership role for their global games and it is at that level that strategic decisions should be taken rather than by the national governing bodies of individual countries. The Deputies opposite are well aware that the Government has advocated at European level for the ending of the neighbourhood agreement that exists between the EU and Israel. I think this is the appropriate action, that relates to governmental activity rather than sporting activity, that shows our commitment to trying to build an alliance at European level and hurt Israel where it matters most in relation to trade. Of course, that is something we have to continue. The FAI has decided to play the fixtures against Israel in accordance with its obligations as a member of UEFA. While there is speculation that the FAI may request that UEFA allow the game to be moved to a neutral venue abroad in the coming days, this is ultimately a decision for the FAI to make. While the decision to fulfil the fixtures or not is a matter for the FAI, it is important to note that not fulfilling the games could have serious sporting consequences for the Irish team, including losing points, relegation in the national league standings, weaker seeding for Euro 2028 qualification and harm to Ireland’s FIFA ranking. These consequences may not matter to some, for sure, but they matter to Irish football. At an operational level, I understand that the FAI is continuing to engage with An Garda Síochána to ensure appropriate preparations for and policing of the home leg of the fixture. The FAI has also engaged with the Norwegian Football Association, which hosted a match against Israel in November last year, to see if any lessons from its experience can be applied to the preparations for the upcoming game in Ireland. Norway played the away leg of its World Cup qualifiers against Israel in Debrecen in Hungary. Furthermore, the FAI is engaging with the Palestinian Football Association to get its views on how to prepare for the match. Additionally, the FAI has engaged with the Israel Football Association, which has confirmed that it does not expect a significant number of Israeli fans to travel to Ireland for the fixture. In accordance with UEFA rules, home legs and fixtures cannot be played in another jurisdiction unless concerns are raised about the capacity for the fixture to be held securely and safely. This is in the broadest sense, from health and safety to fan behaviour to policing. In this instance, An Garda Síochána has confirmed that it is prepared to police the home game. While there has been a wholesale exclusion of Russia from most international sporting events, a point which was raised, the exclusion is built upon international consensus driven by international sporting bodies and within the EU is linked to sanctions against Russia following its illegal invasion of Ukraine. No such international consensus exists in relation to Israel. I am sorry that is not the case, notwithstanding the efforts that the Government has made and continues to make at European level to build that consensus. It is the case that colleagues of mine in other parliaments across the European Union will reflect very positively on the statements and actions of the Government in being leaders in this regard. With respect, it was indicated that we had not shown leadership. In almost every other parliament in Europe, we are seen as being leaders in relation to what we are trying to do to bring Israel to heel for its atrocities. That is not the case in other member states and the consensus does not exist within parliaments there. Reference was made, if not here, then elsewhere, to RTÉ deciding in December 2025 to neither participate in nor broadcast the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel’s ongoing participation. This has been referred to in current debates. That was an independent decision taken by the State broadcaster, which is legally and editorially independent of the Government. Again, if there was a debate in this House demanding that the Government involve itself in a decision like that, it would be seen as overreach, and rightly so, if we were to get involved in what is an independent authority. I think it would reflect badly. The issue of funding was also raised. Sport Ireland, which is funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, is a statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes. The Sport Ireland recognises national governing bodies, NGBs, play a key role in helping to deliver the strategic priorities identified in national sports policy. Funding delivered via Sport Ireland to the NGBs is not tied to the operational or administrative models used by the NGBs, either nationally or locally. All NGBs are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for their own governance and decision-making, including regarding the organisation of and participation in international sporting competitions. It is very clear that there have been issues with other organisations and NGBs over time, and it is all about corporate governance and good governance, the management of their strategic goals and ensuring that the State's money is spent appropriately. This is where the level of Government involvement has to end. Otherwise, it would be seen as an overreach. The Government has no role in how NGBs organise their sport or in their day-to-day operational functions. Furthermore, it would simply not be appropriate to intervene in matters such as this. The FAI is completely within its rights to fulfil its international fixtures and the Government acknowledges its right to do so. The motion put forward today risks isolating not only Irish football but the entire Irish sporting ecosystem, making our sports and sportspeople merely an appendage of Irish foreign policy and entirely dependent on financing from the Government. I do not think, notwithstanding everything that has been said, that would be in the best interests of our sporting organisations. For these reasons, the Government proposes to amend the wording of this motion as per the amendment submitted to the House.

Sentiment score: 0.13