Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

To echo the Minister's sentiments around the cycling and the tour, it would be really positive. I understand that major sport event funding will remain at €6.4 million as Ireland looks to develop as a location for hosting big tournaments such as the Ryder Cup, the European Championships in football and so on. My colleague, Deputy Mark Ward, and I have been talking with FAI and various interested groups about holding a match between Ireland and Palestine. It would be a great gesture of solidarity with Palestine in the face of the genocide that is being committed there at the moment.

The Government has been very outspoken about the need for a ceasefire, though in May of last year the Minister of State said Russia "must not be allowed to use sport to legitimise its barbaric and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine...". I do not see that replicated here when he is saying he is leaving it up to the sporting governing bodies to decide what they want to do, especially with today's match against Israel. Why the contrast in treatment between Russia and Israel? Israel has clearly committed atrocities and the Government has acknowledged that. I spoke with Jonathan Hill of the FAI and he indicated one of the restricting factors would be the cost of hosting a match like that with Ireland and Palestine. Would the Government be open to the hosting of an Ireland and Palestine friendly match? Looking at the crowds marching for Palestine every week, we know it would sell out.