Irish premier describes RTE's Eurovision boycott as ‘act of solidarity’

Evening Standard

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said he “fully understands” the decision taken by Ireland's national broadcaster RTE to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) agreed to allow Israel to participate amid the conflict in Gaza.However, Northern Ireland’s leaders gave opposing views of the decision.Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said it “won’t make a jot of difference” to the situation in the Middle East.

Transcript

00:00We've seen this week the RTE Broadcasting Branch of the NUJ come out in support of the

00:23boycott, which has really given hope.

00:33Look, I think the focus on everyone should be on what is actually going to make a meaningful

00:37difference in the Middle East. That must mean supporting all efforts to stabilize the ceasefire.

00:43I'm glad to see that the UK government and others are working to help to stabilize that

00:48piece. It's a very fragile situation, but quite frankly, boycotting a singing competition

00:52is not going to make one jot of difference in terms of moving forward with a peaceful

00:57resolution and permanent resolution to that conflict.

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