Carol Nolan, speaking in the Dáil, supports the amendment proposed by Deputies Collins, O'Donoghue, O'Flynn and Fitzmaurice, urging that sport be depoliticised and that fixture decisions remain with UEFA and international bodies. She recognises the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, condemns terrorism, and warns against unilateral boycotts that hurt Irish sport and communities.
Main point
Carol Nolan sets out a clear position: sporting fixtures and tournament participation should be determined by UEFA and international sporting organisations, not by unilateral political actions from the Irish government. She supports the measured amendment tabled by Deputies Collins, O'Donoghue, O'Flynn and Fitzmaurice.
Humanitarian acknowledgment
Nolan emphasises the grave humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the heartbreaking loss of innocent civilian life, and she unequivocally condemns acts of terrorism, including the barbaric attack by Hamas cited in her remarks.
Moral contradiction
She highlights what she describes as selective outrage, noting Ireland competes against nations such as Qatar despite serious human rights concerns. Nolan argues that singling out Israel while overlooking other states undermines the credibility of boycott calls.
Domestic priorities and consequences
Nolan warns that parliamentary focus on this single international conflict has eclipsed urgent domestic issues: housing, cost of living, health service pressures and rising crime. She stresses that withdrawing from fixtures or boycotting carries sporting, economic and reputational consequences for teams, supporters and Ireland's ability to host events.
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I will be supporting the measured and balanced amendment proposed by deputies Collins, O'Donoghue, O'Flynn and Fitzmaurice. And let me be clear from the outset, I recognise the grave humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the continuing heartbreaking loss of innocent civilian life. No one with a conscience can look at the suffering of families and children there and remain unmoved. I also unequivocally condemn all acts of terrorism, violence and attacks on citizens and civilians wherever they occur, such as the barbaric attack by Hamas where innocent men and women were murdered at a music festival. It was particularly sickening and it shouldn't be happening either. The recognition of suffering cannot justify turning Irish sport into a political battlefield. Sport must be depoliticised as much as possible. Irish sports people, men and women who have given years of dedication, sacrifice and discipline to represent this country should not be punished or dragged into international disputes that are far beyond their control. There is also a glaring moral contradiction at the heart of this debate. We are told that playing against Israel is somehow unconscionable. However, Ireland happily competes against Qatar, a country whose human rights record includes the exploitation of migrant workers, the denial of basic freedoms and appalling records on women's rights in terms of religious freedoms also and political repression. They are all synonymous with those countries. So the selective outrage directed at Israel and only Israel undermines the credibility of those demanding a boycott. This house has spent a disproportionate amount of time on this one international conflict, while urgent domestic issues, the housing emergency, the crippling cost of living, the chaos in our health service and the rising crime on our streets receive far less attention. Irish citizens watching these debates must wonder why Gaza dominates the agenda here when families in their own communities cannot find a home. We owe it to the people who elected us to get our priorities straight and get our priorities right. This amendment rightly states that decisions on fixtures and tournament participation are matters for UEFA and the international sporting bodies, not unilateral grandstanding by the Irish government. We should respect those determinations. Withdrawing or boycotting carries real consequences sporting, economic and reputational for our teams, our supporters and our ability to host major events in the future. Sports should be a source of national unity and pride and not a vehicle for political activism. Go raibh maith agat.
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