James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

81. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the size of the Russian diplomatic presence in Ireland will be reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13640/23]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

107. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has conducted a review on the activities of the Russian Embassy; if he is satisfied the level of staff employed at the embassy is warranted and justifiable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13585/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 (VCDR) identifies three categories of Mission staff as follows:

- Diplomatic staff

- Administrative and Technical staff, and

- Service staff

There are currently 21 officers at the Embassy of the Russian Federation who have been notified to my Department under Article 10 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations - 9 Diplomats and 12 Administrative and Technical staff.

Prior to the invasion of Ukraine there were a total of 30 officers at the Embassy, 14 diplomats and 16 Administrative and Technical staff.

The Government expelled four senior officials from the Embassy of the Russian Federation in March 2022. Those four officials were asked to leave the State because their activities were not in accordance with the international standards of diplomatic behaviour, as agreed in the 1961 Vienna Convention.

Despite our strong disagreement with the actions taken by Russia since their unjustified and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, 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. Additionally, it allows us to engage on a range of operational issues, in line with our obligations under the VCDR.

As with all of our responses to this crisis, however, Ireland continues to keep our policies and practices under review and will continue to coordinate closely with other EU Member States on our engagement with Russia, including keeping the size of embassy personnel under review.