Mr Orban’s visit is in a ‘private capacity’ and no official engagements are planned
The Hungarian prime minister has touched down in Dublin to watch his national team take on Ireland in tonight’s World Cup 2026 qualifier at the Aviva Stadium.
Supported by Mr Orban and his populist Fidesz Party, the Hungarian parliament passed a constitutional amendment formally banning public gatherings amounting to the “depiction or promotion” of homosexuality to children, meaning the annual Budapest Pride parade was outlawed.
“Unlike in Hungary, we don’t try and ban people from participating in culture and sporting events,” said Mr O’Gorman who attended this year’s first outlawed Budapest Pride march in June along with around 200,000 others.
Mr O’Gorman believes that Viktor Orban is trying to ‘chip away’ at the democratic rights of citizens in Hungary. (Brian Lawless/PA)
“He’s certainly not welcome, but legally he’s entitled to be here.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Mr Orban’s visit is in a “private capacity”, and that no official engagements are planned.
Mr O’Gorman claimed that the “vast majority” of Hungarians are against Mr Orban’s attempts to “chip away at the checks and balances” in his country by limiting the ability of trade unions, NGOs and women’s groups to undermine his leadership.
“I think the vast majority of Irish people would reject his sort of politics, but let him come and like let him see what proper freedom looks like.”
Attacking Mr Orban’s “abysmal” record of supporting leaders such as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin, Mr O’Gorman said that the EU has done little to limit his actions as the bloc’s primary renegade leader.
“The EU has been far too lenient with the way in which he has undermined European values, whether it’s on the approach to Gaza, whether it’s on the approach to Ukraine, and indeed, the approach to the treatment of human rights,” he said.
Social Democrats’ spokesperson on foreign affairs, Patricia Stephenson, described Mr Orban’s association with Mr Netanyahu as “atrocious”, but urged the Government to use the Hungarian leader’s presence in Ireland as an opportunity to discuss speak with him about ending the EU’s close trade ties with Israel.
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban has is in Dublin for tonight’s World Cup 2026 qualifier between Ireland and Hungary. Photo: Getty
Today’s News in 90 seconds – 6th September 2025
The EU-Israel Association Agreement, established in 2000, aims to strengthen EU relations with the Middle Eastern state by strengthening ties between both economies.
Social Democrats spokesperson for foreign affairs and trade, Patricia Stephenson
Describing Hungary as a “laggard” in Europe’s unanimity of approach to Gaza, she said: “Hungary is the reason that we can’t actually end the EU-Israeli trade agreement, which would be fundamental in actually taking some action against Israel.”
“It is really a fundamental piece of the puzzle in terms of ending Israel’s impunity and having actual meaningful accountability for what’s happening,” she added.
Ms Stephenson returned from the West Bank last week, and she said increasing Jewish settler violence against Palestinians in the region, coupled with the expansion of Jewish settlements that are illegal under international law, are having lasting consequences.
“It’s an apartheid state. The infrastructure of that is visible across the land in the West Bank.”