Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, in the Department of Transport will be engaging with Dublin Airport in respect of this. There are issues with recruitment. Notwithstanding all the challenges facing the economy, the reality is we have never had so many people employed. We have had real challenges with recruitment of staff in key sectors of the economy since we emerged from the latest Covid crisis. We will do everything we can. There are existing workplace arrangements to deal with the latter point the Deputy raised.

A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I beg your indulgence and that of the House. Deputy Bacik asked me earlier about diplomatic expulsions. I do not want to be accused subsequently of not fully informing the House. As her question was coming through, the Department of Foreign Affairs had indeed summoned the Russian ambassador. I was loath to override what would be normal diplomatic protocols. Under the 1961 Vienna Convention, four senior officials of the Russian Embassy have been asked to leave the State because their activities are not in accordance with international standards of diplomatic behaviour. I received security advice yesterday and the Minister for Foreign Affairs also received security advice. Yesterday I met our national security team. Under Article 9 of the 1961 Vienna Convention, we have taken these actions. However, we believe that diplomatic channels between the Russian Federation and the State should stay open in the interests of us conveying our abhorrence of the war, maintaining diplomatic channels as a principle and protecting Irish citizens in Russia and elsewhere.

See this speech in context