Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

One of the items on the agenda of the upcoming meeting is that leaders are expected to give further guidance on EU security and defence capacity. In his contribution, will the Taoiseach acknowledge that years of under-investment in our Defence Forces by successive Governments have depleted our defence capabilities? It is little wonder that the Government now wants us to further align with military blocs, to undertake tasks it has rendered our Defence Forces incapable of doing. The consultative forum on Ireland's international security policy set up by the Tánaiste is a blatant attempt to undermine Irish neutrality. Sinn Féin wants to rebuild our Defence Forces so that we can protect our neutrality, defend and monitor our skies and seas and protect ourselves from modern threats, including cybersecurity attacks.

This is another European Council meeting at which Palestine is not on the agenda. Only this week, Israel's government approved plans to build thousands of new homes in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. This is an act of open war against the Palestinian people. The decision comes amid rising violence in the occupied territories. Last week the Tánaiste tweeted that he was deeply shocked by the murder of four innocent Israelis in the West Bank. He went on to say that he was also alarmed by the killing of seven Palestinians in Jenin. The choice of language used by the Tánaiste is very telling. Israelis are "murdered" but in the same tweet, Palestinians are "killed".

There is a sporting boycott on Israel because of the apartheid crimes against the Palestinian people. It was deeply disappointing to see former Irish international soccer player, Robbie Keane, go to manage Maccabi Tel Aviv. My concern is that this move is another attempt at sports washing. When people of the stature of Robbie Keane ply their trade in Israel, it is an attempt to gloss over and legitimise the apartheid regime. Can the Taoiseach raise the issue of sport washing apartheid regimes at the meeting? Robbie Keane said in an interview yesterday that he was going to Israel for sporting reasons. This is no consolation to the family of Omar Abu Qatin, a footballer for Turmus Ayya, who was killed last Wednesday. The 25-year-old leaves behind a wife and two children after being shot in the chest outside his home. He worked as an electrician during the week but put on his boots for Turmus Ayya at weekends.

Does the Minister know that since Palestine became a member of FIFA in 1998 not one European country has ever played a soccer match against Palestine? I met the Palestinian FA in Al-Ram last year. It told me that it would welcome the opportunity to play the Irish soccer team. Given the historical connection between Ireland and Palestine, this would be a wonderful show of solidarity. If it was an all-Ireland soccer team, it would be even better. Ireland has played historic matches previously. In 1951 Ireland became the first country to host Germany after World War Two. We were world leaders then and we could become world leaders again by offering the olive branch to the Palestinian people. Will the Taoiseach ask why no members of the EU have played Palestine in international football matches? Would the Irish Government support the hosting of Palestine for an international friendly?

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