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/