Charlie McConalogue: “The place for the Government to lead was not through a sports match but through the political arena.”

The FAI have to make a decision, in relation to partaking in the matches, they've made that decision, we as a Government support that decision, they’re right to make it.

No, I don’t believe it’s sportswashing ... I believe it’s a matter for the footballing bodies to make their decision on.

I think it's important we respect that decision that they’ve made from a political point of view.

We, as a Government, make a decision that we’ve led out and continue to lead out in relation to setting the tone internationally in relation to the recent Israeli actions in Palestine and will continue to do so.