Social Democrats TD Daniel Ennis has said that the Republic of Ireland national team should not play against Israel in its upcoming fixtures later this year.
It comes as a protest outside the Dáil is due to take place this afternoon against the decision by the FAI to play the Ireland-Israel Nations League fixtures in September and October.
Mr Ennis arrived at Leinster House for his first day as a new deputy flanked by family and members of his party.
Asked about the upcoming matches, he said Ireland should not play against Israel and that the FAI and the Government should take a stand.
"Football and sport is a universal language built on respect and how can you stand shoulder to shoulder right up against a genocidal regime," said Mr Ennis, who is a former League of Ireland professional footballer.
"It's a tough one on the players. My friends are former internationals, and it's a very, very proud achievement, a moment to play, be selected by your country, but your governing body, your sporting governing body, should be stepping in, and in that case, that's the FAI, and that should be supported by the Government," he added.
In February, the FAI said it has "no choice" but to fulfil its Nations League fixtures with Israel, after the association confirmed that the home tie on 4 October would be played in Dublin.
Mr Ennis also urged fans to boycott the match.
Mr Ennis said he was delighted to be elected and "can't thank the voters enough".
He said the politics of decency and hope won out, and he will "represent everyone that calls Dublin Central home".
Social Democrats party leader Holly Cairns said the recent bye-elections showed that when people are looking for an alternative to the Government, more and more are looking to her party for that change.
She said the party is now a real political force in Ireland given that it had overtaken Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin in both of the bye-election constituencies.
She also said that the party would stand a candidate in every constituency in the next general election.
'I'm going to work even harder' - says Fine Gael's Séan Kyne after re-election
Meanwhile newly elected Galway West TD Seán Kyne said he is delighted and grateful for the support he received in the bye-election over the weekend.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said that when he lost his Dáil seat in 2020, he did not expect that he would be in a position to be a TD again.
On his decision in 2024 to leave politics, he said that he took advice and consulted with supporters and colleagues and ran for the Seanad and was elected.
He said that this time round he plans to be more visible in his constituency, which spans a very large area.
He said that before the 2024 general election he had felt that if he did not succeed on that occasion he would give it up.
Listen back: Seán Kyne enters Dáil Éireann today
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He added: "Losing your seat is difficult. Failing to get it back is difficult. I suppose I was conscious that I hadn't got a mandate from the people of Galway West since 2016. So that was on my mind, I suppose.
"But thankfully, I've gotten an even better mandate now, which was to win a bye-election as a Government representative in a large constituency like Galway West."
Mr Kyne said: "I'm going to work even harder. I'm going to be more visible across all parts of the constituency. It is a vast constituency."
He said: "I need to be more visible, I need to be more out there, I need to be engaging more with people and continuing with the work as well."
On benefiting from transfers from the Fianna Fáil candidate, he said that you would expect that for coalition partners in government.
He said that he had fought five general elections prior to this.
He said he is not concerned that voters do not see any difference between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
"We're in Government for the first time together. So obviously that has to translate, if you like, into cross-party support.
"I'd expect the same thing if Fine Gael candidates were ahead and if Fine Gael candidate was transferring. Historically, Fine Gael and the Labour Party used to transfer well together.
"It didn't impact our distinct identities, but it just means that Government colleagues support each other during Government because there's a commitment to deliver on the Programme for Government and the measures and issues that are part of that," he said.
"So, I wouldn't read too much into that."
