Government: releasing Harris briefing note on FAI Israel motion would harm international relations
Government claims that releasing a briefing note prepared for Simon Harris’s meeting with the US ambassador in the aftermath of an FAI motion to suspend Israel from European football would “harm” the state’s “capacity to conduct international relations”.
Government claims that releasing a briefing note prepared for Simon Harris’s meeting with the US ambassador in the aftermath of an FAI motion to suspend Israel from European football would “harm” the state’s “capacity to conduct international relations”.
The document was prepared for the tánaiste just days after US senator Lyndsey Graham said the Irish economy would “pay a heavy price” for the FAI’s vote to submit a motion to suspend Israel from all UEFA competitions.
Now government refuses to release what Harris was planning to say to the US ambassador in private if questioned about the FAI motion.
The revelation comes as government faces increased opposition pressure to stop Ireland’s home football fixture against Israel in October.
The Department of Foreign Affairs refused to release the 17 November, 2025 briefing note for Harris’s meeting with US ambassador to Ireland Edward Walsh, in response to a freedom of information request from Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan.
The department claimed in its 4 June, 2026 decision that releasing the “Brief for Tánaiste’s meeting with H.E Edward Walsh” and an 8 November, 2025 document titled “Lines on FAI Israel vote ‘if needed only’” would be harmful to its interests.
“In my opinion, the release of these records could reasonably be expected to adversely impact on the department’s ability to carry out its work and engage with international partners in the future. This would harm our capacity to conduct international relations,” wrote the department’s freedom of information officer.
The Ditch reported in 2024 that Walsh’s predecessor warned Harris of "consequences" if government enacted the Occupied Territories Bill.
