Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Since the beginning of Vladimir Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine this calendar year, European Union member states have expelled over 310 Russian diplomats from their embassies across the Union. That includes Lithuania, which very bravely and foresightedly expelled the Russian ambassador just this weekend. So far, the Irish Government has expelled four diplomats. While that is welcome, it is quite paltry considering the level and number of expulsions happening across the EU. My question is quite simple. Has the European Council discussed the co-ordination of diplomatic expulsions? This point was put to me by the Tánaiste when I first raised this issue a number of weeks ago. At the next opportunity, will the Taoiseach and his Ministers take the opportunity to finally expel the Russian ambassador and all the diplomats and, indeed, spies, who are resident in the embassy on Orwell Road?

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