5. Statement by the Minister for Economy: Qatar World Cup Engagement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:16 pm on 15 November 2022.

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Photo of Jane Dodds Jane Dodds Liberal Democrat 4:16, 15 November 2022

Good afternoon again, Minister. I want to put on record my support to the Welsh team. I hope they come back with the world cup. Wouldn't that just be amazing? I hope we would see them first here in the Senedd. But you will know that the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats across the UK condemn Ministers going from Wales to the Qatari world cup, and I hope maybe Plaid Cymru would join us in that position as well. 

I have three questions for you in the time that I've got. One is being repeated for the third time, and I appreciate you've got lots of questions, but why is it that the Welsh Government did not go to COP27 on the basis that you were going to be expending air miles, and yet many people in this team are going off to Qatar? The climate emergency is our biggest threat, and also potentially our biggest economic opportunity as well. The second question: why is it that you made a decision not to attend the Iran game based on human rights, and still you're going to Qatar, which as you've heard outlined has one of the worst human rights records in relation to women, gay people and workers from other countries? And I understand you do want to raise Welsh values, but you've got an office in Qatar, you've had an office in Qatar for a number of years, and I understand you're going to continue with that. It does not require Welsh Ministers to go, and I urge you to reconsider that decision. Diolch yn fawr iawn.