Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Today is World AIDS Day. We must as a country, collectively and individually, continue to remove the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS. We must also do so in the world of sport, where a parallel exercise is necessary. I ask for a debate in this House, and with the Government, on the criteria used in the selection of host countries for major sporting events, such as the Olympics and FIFA World Cup. It is time we stopped rewarding countries that continue to deny human rights and where members of the LGBTQ+ community continue to live in fear. That must no longer be allowed to continue. It is also important that an audit is carried out of the records of human rights abuses in countries selected to host major international events. It is now time we stop rewarding and elevating countries that have a poor human rights record and continue to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people. It is not right. It is wrong and we must stand up against it and stand up to those countries that are not living up to their human rights values.

We are watching games in Qatar, Russia and Beijing. Do any of us in this House watch those events and say, "What if?" Tom Daley and other Olympians led the charge this week. What is our collective role and collective view? I hope that today, this House sends a message to the Government, to governments around the world and to sporting organisations that it is time they stop discrimination and stop rewarding the denial of human rights.

Sport has led against apartheid. We have role models who are hugely important. We must send out a positive message to our role models about human rights. I ask for a debate on this issue because it is high time that we as a House stood up and were counted and that our Government, our Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and our sporting organisation led the way.