Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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92. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has met with the Russian Ambassador to Ireland since assuming his new position; if so, if he will provide details of any such engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4444/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have not met the Russian Ambassador to Ireland since taking up the role of Minister for Foreign Affairs.

However, officials in my Department have met with the Ambassador on a number of occasions – most recently in December 2022 and January 2023 - to make clear our utter condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and to discuss a range of operational issues, in line with our obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR). This is the international agreement on arrangements for diplomats and diplomatic missions to which both Ireland and the Russian Federation are party.

Since Russia’s unjustified and illegal further invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there have also been several meetings between the Russian Ambassador and officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs to discuss specific matters of concern relating to Russia's actions in Ukraine. In coordination with EU partners, the Russian Ambassador was summoned to the Department on 3 October 2022. He was informed that Ireland categorically condemned the declaration by the Russian Federation on 30 September 2022 illegally annexing part of the territory of Ukraine, and would not recognise such declared annexations.

The Russian Ambassador was again called in by senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs on 17 November 2022 when the Government’s firm objection to the unwarranted and unjustified travel ban imposed on Irish citizens was conveyed. Ireland’s position in respect of Russia’s illegal aggression against Ukraine, and support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its right to defend itself under Article 51 of the UN Charter, was reiterated.

Despite our strong disagreement with the actions taken by Russia, the Government's view is that diplomatic channels between Ireland and the Russian Federation should remain open. This is in the interests of our own citizens, both in Russia itself and in the five central Asian republics to which Ireland is accredited via our Embassy in Moscow. It also allows us to continue to formally convey the Government's strong objection to the illegal and unwarranted war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine.