Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has held a strong and unwavering commitment to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) since its adoption in Dublin in 2008. Along with the other over 100 States Parties to the CCM, Ireland's position remains that these weapons are, by nature, indiscriminate and imprecise.

In line with our obligations under the CCM, Ireland will not use, develop, produce, acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer (directly or indirectly), cluster munitions under any circumstances, and Ireland will continue to discourage all actors from using these weapons, even those not party to the Convention.

Senior officials in my Department acting on my behalf have raised this matter with their US counterparts at meetings on the margins of the recent UN General Assembly High Level Week in New York, where Irish policy on this issue was outlined. The Deputy has raised this important matter previously in the Dáil, prior to the above meeting, and to which I responded setting out our position. I am pleased to provide the above update.

Our position is well known and is fully understood by the United States and other international partners.

There are currently 112 States Parties to the CCM. Neither USA, Ukraine, nor Russia are party to the Treaty and so are not directly bound by its provisions.

Ireland will continue to do our part to support Ukraine and its people against the Russian Federation’s unlawful aggression. However, we maintain, in line with our CCM obligations, that these weapons should not be used in any circumstances.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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42. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the latest breakdown of known Russian presence at the Russian embassy in Dublin, if a person (details supplied) is still in situ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41760/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently 18 officers at the Embassy of the Russian Federation to Ireland who have been notified to my Department under Article 10 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations - 7 Diplomats and 11 Administrative and Technical staff. This includes the Russian Ambassador, Yury Filatov.

Prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine there were a total of 30 officers at the Embassy - 14 Diplomats and 16 Administrative and Technical staff.

Ireland continues to coordinate closely with other EU Member States on our engagement with Russia, including keeping numbers of embassy personnel under review.