Two sports ministers have said they will not attend the upcoming soccer match between the Republic of Ireland and Israel in Dublin.
Minister for Sport Patrick O'Donovan and Charlie McConalogue, who is Minister of State for Sport, appeared before an Oireachtas committee meeting, where they were asked about the Government’s response to the controversial UEFA Nations League fixture.
Ireland is to play Israel at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Sunday 4 October - a week after the two sides meet at a neutral venue on Sunday 27 September.
Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O'Sullivan said that he attends all of Ireland’s home matches but was choosing not to go to the Israel game "as a form of personal protest".
Both ministers also said that they do not intend to attend the match.
Earlier, Social Democrats' TD Sinéad Gibney had asked them whether the Government had spoken to the FAI about covering any sanctions they might face, should Ireland withdraw from the games.
Playing the matches was a matter for the FAI to decide, Mr McConalogue said.
"There’d be significant repercussions for them within the UEFA system," he added "which is for them to consider and they’ve made their call and we support their decision".
He also confirmed the Government had not taken legal advice about what potential sanctions the FAI might face if it chose not to go ahead with the fixtures.
Ms Gibney pressed Mr McConalogue repeatedly as to whether he thought the situation amounted to "sportswashing".
Sportswashing refers to the use of sporting events or teams by governments, individuals and organisations to improve their image by distracting from unethical or controversial activities.
"No, I don’t believe it’s sportswashing ... I believe it’s a matter for the footballing bodies to make their decision on," Mr McConalogue replied.
"We, as a Government, make a decision that we’ve led out and continue to lead out in relation to setting the tone internationally in relation to the recent Israeli actions in Palestine and will continue to do so."
Read more:
Players 'not the bad guys' amid Israel issue - Hallgrimsson
Ms Gibney asked Mr O'Donovan, who is also Minister for Media, if he had "committed to supporting RTÉ to get out of its broadcasting contract to broadcast the Israeli fixtures?"
He said the broadcaster had made "no approach" to his department.
Asked if the Government had approached RTÉ, Mr O’Donovan said it was an "editorial matter" and that if he attempted to contact it, Ms Gibney "would be the very first person" to say he had overstepped his remit.
Separately, Taoiseach Micheál Martin was asked if Irish supporters should "examine their conscience" before attending the match.
He said "we desperately need perspective on this", adding that Ireland had taken a "strong principled stance" on Israel's actions, and to focus the debate on a game "does not do justice to the enormity or complexity of the issue".
