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

I thank the Minister of State. He was saying we would end up not playing any sport in international competitions, but it is Israel that should not be allowed participate in any international sport. Irish Sport for Palestine has secured hundreds of signatures from elite sportspeople. The Dublin ladies made a magnificent gesture to call for a ceasefire. Sporting people get what is happening in the Gaza Strip. They get there is this horrendous genocide and they also get that Israel is weaponising sport and sportswashing genocide.

We have to go beyond just leaving it up to the sporting bodies. When a country is facing accusations and the ICJ has said there is a strong suggestion it has partaken in genocide, we must go beyond merely allowing it to be up to Basketball Ireland. It is unfair on the players, and five players have opted out of playing, but it is unfair on Basketball Ireland as well. This should be taken out of its hands. The International Basketball Federation, FIBA, should be taking it out of the hands of the national governing bodies.

Is the Government willing to consider supporting financially a match between Ireland and Palestine as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people?