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

I want to follow up on what my colleague Deputy Andrews was saying about Israel deliberately targeting Palestinian athletes. Chris was right; sport has the power to change the world. I commend the Dublin women's football team for taking a stand at the weekend in support of Palestine. I was in the West Bank 14 months ago and met the head of the Palestinian Football Association. He told me no European country has ever played Palestine in an international soccer match, whether in a friendly or in a competition. I urge the Minister of State to raise at the next European Council meeting why this has not happened.

I again wrote to the FAI today urging it to organise this international friendly. I believe this match would sell out the Aviva Stadium or Croke Park and be a spectacular event of colour. We have all seen the Palestinian flags at soccer matches in Celtic Park, in League of Ireland grounds and in international matches here, and the Irish and Palestinian flags flying together would send a powerful message throughout the world.

I congratulate the Palestinian football team on an amazing result last night in qualifying for the last 16 of the AFC Asian Cup, for the first time in their history, at a time of total adversity in their country. They need to be commended on that.

I again ask the Minister of State to raise at the next European Council meeting the proposal for an international friendly. I would appreciate that.

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