Why a Russian embassy expansion alarmed the Irish Government

[Dublin321]

Fascinating article:

By Louise Byrne
Prime Time Reporter

In early March 2020, Covid-19 had reached our shores and Ireland was just days away from announcing the first lockdown measures. But, while the country was consumed by the pandemic, serious concerns of a different kind were being raised in Government.

The Minister for Housing is not routinely involved in matters of national security, so it was unusual when Eoghan Murphy was called to a top-secret briefing with senior defence and security officials.

At the briefing, it was explained to the then-minister that a planned expansion of the Russian Embassy on Dublin's Orwell Road needed to be stopped.

Planning permission had been granted by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in 2015, but a closer look at the proposals had raised red flags. The Government had recently passed legislation allowing it to block applications on national security grounds – so it fell to the Housing Minister to act.

More here:



https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2022/0310/1285699-russian-embassy-orwell-road-irish-government/

[Granny M]

1. Just read this

this morning. I think they should expel the Russian ambassador and staff. He's about as helpful as a case of hemorrhoids.

[Quakerfriend]

2. Unbelievable gaul! Ireland

should send them all home now.
- Especially after their recent attempt to conduct naval ‘excercises’ off the coast of Ireland.

[Dublin321]

3. Expelling ambassador?

Completely disagree as regarding expelling ambassador, that would be entirely unhelpful and could be treated as act of war given the mood of the current apparently out-of-control Russian leader.

It may be sensible to request that the embassy supply a list of all staff and their exact job descriptions. It shows they are being monitored.

We are a small country with no military to speak of.

[Joinfortmill]

10. I hear you, but appeasement doesn't work with Putin.

[Dublin321]

14. Appeasement doesn't work

"Appeasement doesn't work with Putin"

Yes, we know that now. But Ireland is on paper a militarily neutral, with no military to speak of (yeah, I know, doesn't make sense). In practice we would be heavily dependent on the Brits for defence if we were invaded or attacked, even though not a NATO member. There is no realistic possibility of the Ambassador being expelled unless as part of a concerted effort by all EU states, the UK, the US etc.

[FSogol]

16. Tut-tut, don't say anything bad about Russia!

Expelling ambassadors happens all the time and is never considered an act of war.

[SergeStorms]

4. More from article...

"The basement, which was labeled on the planning application for storage and plant use, looked more like a "nerve centre" of the operation, according to Mr Berry.

"There's 20 storage rooms, ten power plant rooms, and four rooms with no description, which are called voids. The plans also included the provision of 13 toilets in the basement, which is considered unusual for a storage area."

"You could have the GRU, which is the Russian military intelligence, or the SVR, which is their foreign intelligence service, operating underground," Mr Berry explained.

Security sources were worried the subterranean area was ideal for storing computer servers potentially for use in data mining, troll farming and launching so-called "influence" operations."

13 crappers in the basement "storage area". Yeah.............sure. You can't believe a single word coming from anyone's mouth connected to the Russian government. They lie almost as much as Donald Trump, and that's some world class lying.

[Dublin321]

6. Subterranean area

Indeed.

I was also very intrigued by the reference to the expulsions of embassy staff back during the Cold War era:

And, in 1983, three Soviet embassy staff were expelled when a spying operation was uncovered. At the time, the expulsions were not explained publicly, and most presumed they were linked to Soviet-IRA links.

But, in his memoirs, former taoiseach Garrett FitzGerald revealed that the Irish Government had been briefed that Soviet spies were exchanging information with a US double agent in the Stillorgan Shopping Centre in Dublin.

Partially because the shopping centre referred to is 5 mins from where I live!

[SergeStorms]

12. Welcome to DU, Dublin321!

Nice to have you here.

Living so close to Russian spying activity, you might want to wear rubber gloves when out in public. Russians have a "trick" they use of putting nerve agents and poisons on doorknobs and such. But that was back in the 80s. Maybe they've changed rendezvous points since then.

There are several undersea fiber-optic cables whose terminus are in Ireland as well. I wouldn't want Russians doing anything beneath the old sod of Ireland.

[Dublin321]

5. Sensible responses

Should the US expel the Russian ambassador?
Should the British (given Russian infiltration of parts of their banking industry)?

I'd like sensible suggestions, not histrionics. Thanks.

[msfiddlestix]

15. histrionics? Oh lordy.

I wasn't born yet during WWII, but not long after.

Are you under the impression that Putin isn't engaged in launching WWIII?

Or is that an example of "histrionics"??

Trying to understand your application of the term.

[Tesha]

7. Russians vs the Irish Fishermen?

Why does Russia build a fortress in Ireland, and how many other countries will see their expansion…that has nothing to do with diplomacy?

[SheltieLover]

8. Welcome to DU!

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

9. Kick the warmongering imperialists out of Ireland.

Ireland's long history of resisting imperialist aggressors and occupiers serves as a basis for kicking the scheming, plotting Russians out of the country.

Russian trolls and operatives are an insidious, invasive species. Root them out before they multiply.

[Joinfortmill]

11. Ireland rocks. Sic the fisherman on them!

[FM123]

13. Yes! Love those Irish fishermen!