Minister of State with responsibility for Sport Charlie McConalogue has said the Government supports the FAI's decision to partake in upcoming soccer internationals against Israel.
His comments come as Opposition parties prepare to use their Dáil time to call on the Coalition to support a boycott of the games.
The Republic of Ireland are due to play Israel in the Nations League on 27 September at a neutral venue.
They are also due to host the Israeli team in the Aviva Stadium on 4 October.
That fixture is under fresh scrutiny after fans threw tennis balls featuring the Palestinian flag on to the pitch during Thursday's match against Qatar.
Watch: Minister says Govt supports FAI decision to fulfil fixtures against Israel
Speaking on RTÉ's the Week in Politics, Mr McConalogue said the FAI had made a decision to partake in and host the fixtures, and the Government must support and respect that decision.
He said the FAI had found themselves "in a very challenging position".
"The FAI have to make a decision, in relation to partaking in the matches, they've made that decision, we as a Government support that decision, they’re right to make it.
"I think it's important we respect that decision that they’ve made from a political point of view," he added.
The Opposition is now putting pressure on the Government.
Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats are to bring forward motions this week calling on the Coalition to support a boycott of the matches in protest on legal and moral grounds.
The Sinn Féin motion, to be brought forward on 9 June, calls on the Government to "support calls from the Irish football community, which include the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland (PFAI) and Irish Football Supporters Partnership (IFSP), for the FAI to refuse to participate in the proposed matches against Israel, scheduled for 27 September and 4 October in protest on legal and moral grounds".
The Social Democrats will use its private members time to bring forward a similar motion on 10 June.
The FAI has previously stated it must fulfill the fixtures, with a six-point deduction and a financial penalty likely should Ireland forfeit the games.
Any deduction would severely hinder Ireland's prospects of qualifying for Euro 2028.
It was confirmed on Friday that the FAI is to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting on the issue.
Also speaking on the The Week in Politics, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said the Government "needed to take a leadership role" on the issue, adding that it was not fair for pressure to come onto the players themselves.
"This is a place they can show leadership, support the players, support he FAI, but we can show leadership here," she said, adding that: "There are some places where you can bring political pressure, and this is one of them."
Sinn Féin’s David Cullinane said he would not be going to the game, and that the game should not be going ahead in the first place.
Referencing the potential fines and loss of points for the team if the games do not go ahead, Mr Cullinane said: "Six points versus genocide, and soccer players and supported in Gaza who were killed, sports grounds levelled in Gaza, a bit of perspective."
Responding to calls by Mr Cullinane and Ms Whitmore to take leadership, Mr McConalogue said the place for the Government to lead was "not through a sports match but through the political arena" which he said they were doing by enacting the Occupied Territories Bill by July.
