Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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62. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on his latest engagement with the Russian ambassador in view of the recent presence of Russian commercial vessels in international waters off Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19748/23]

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 March 2023 - to make clear our utter condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and to discuss a range of operational issues related to our Embassy in Moscow and issues related to 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.

With regard to the civilian Russian vessels recently observed inside the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), I can confirm that the vessels in question were monitored by the Irish Naval Service and by Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft as they transited through the EEZ.

Any vessels transiting Irish waters must do so in compliance with international law and may be subject to sighting and observation by the Naval Service and Air Corps.