Sports Events Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-29 ============================================================ Michael Moynihan (FF), Cork North-West I thank Senator Andrews for raising the matter. The performance and integrity of our top athletes on the international stage has had a very positive impact for us, as Irish sport provides the world with a window into Ireland and the Irish people, both at home and abroad. International success for our top sportspeople enriches our country in a variety of ways. Many of our fondest memories are centred on Ireland’s achievements on the global sporting stage. These achievements have been a cause of both celebration and inspiration for the public and will continue to do so into the future. This is why the Government is committed to supporting Irish athletes competing at the highest level of international competition. There have been many calls for Irish sporting organisations to boycott or exclude Israel from international sporting competitions in the context of the genocide in Gaza. They include calls for the Football Association of Ireland not to fulfil its UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel this autumn. All national governing bodies, NGBs, including the FAI, are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of sporting fixtures, whether in domestic or international competitions. The Government and Sport Ireland have no role in determining or supporting the organisation of such fixtures. In addition, neither the Government nor Sport Ireland have a role in determining who can participate in international competitions organised by international sporting federations. International sporting federations are responsible for determining the composition of their membership in line with their own internal rules. The international federations, in this regard UEFA, have a leadership role for their global games, and it is at this level that strategic decisions should be taken rather than by individual countries’ NGBs. The FAI has decided to fulfil its UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel in September and October, in accordance with its obligations as a member of UEFA, and having consulted with An Garda Síochána and other key stakeholders. The Government respects and supports the FAI’s decision to do so. The FAI has briefed both the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan and the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue on this matter, and I understand it will be engaging with the Norwegian Football Federation to learn from its hosting of a match against Israel last year. I should also be clear in that Ireland continues to have grave concerns about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the need to ensure that the people of the Gaza Strip have adequate supplies and services. The Government remains committed to working with key partners to end the conflict in Gaza and to advancing a sustainable peace plan. Ending the conflict and addressing the huge challenges facing the Palestinians in Gaza has implications for regional security and stability. We want all parties to adhere to their commitments in full, desist from any actions inconsistent with what has been agreed and to continue to negotiate in good faith to ensure implementation. In relation to this match, however, the FAI has made its decision to honour its fixture commitment and has set out its reasons for doing so. We must acknowledge its independence and autonomy in arriving at this decision. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-29/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:52+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-04-29