Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said four senior Russian officials have been asked to leave Ireland after "something came to light” from the State’s national security team.
Mr Martin said the four Russian officials who were working out of the embassy in Dublin were being told to leave the country because their “behaviour” and “activities” were "not in accordance with international standards of diplomatic behaviour.”
Mr Martin said: “The decision is primarily informed by the briefings we received from security officials in respect of the behaviour of these individuals.
READ MORE: Four senior Russian officials asked to leave Ireland as Taoiseach issues security update
“I do not want to divulge the particulars of the security briefing we received in respect of these individuals but in my view, it is the correct and the right decision in terms of our own national security but also in terms of sending a very clear message about our abhorrence of the war in Ukraine.”
A senior security source told the Irish Mirror that the four diplomats are suspected of spying.
The source said: “The Government became extremely concerned about spying activities and decided to act.”
It's understood the four suspected spies must leave the country within days after Russian Ambassador Yuriy Filatov was summoned to a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney in Iveagh House.
A spokesman for the Government said: “For matters of security , it wouldn’t be appropriate to comment any further other than they felt it was necessary.
“I would assume something came to light that they felt it was appropriate to act.
“This is relatively rare for Ireland to do something like this.”
Reacting to the news, the Russian embassy said this step by the Irish Government will “not go unanswered.”
A statement from the embassy of the Russian federation in Ireland read: “The Embassy of Russia in Ireland has been informed by the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland of the decision by the Government of Ireland to request that four members of the diplomatic staff of the Embassy leave Ireland shortly, because allegedly their actions have been found to be unacceptable.
“The Embassy rejects such qualifications of the work of our diplomats.
“This is arbitrary, groundless decision which can only deteriorate further Russian-Irish relations, already damaged by the Irish participation in illegitimate EU sanctions against Russia.”
There are currently 31 diplomatic staff known to be working in the embassy on Orwell Road in south Dublin.
A spokesman for the Taoiseach said he hoped that Russia would not react by expelling Irish diplomats in Russia.
There are currently five Irish diplomats working in Moscow.
A spokesman for the Taoiseach said: “We would hope not. We would hope that the diplomatic channels will remain open for other reasons .
“It was four specific individuals.
“It was necessary following the information that the Taoiseach had in his security briefing and the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] to take this action.
“I think it’s very important that this doesn’t mean we want to curtail diplomatic relations with Russia, they’re very important for both countries that we keep those diplomatic relations with countries open but the Government felt this action was necessary.”
The Irish Mirror understands that the Garda’s National Crime and Security Intelligence Service and the military intelligence branch of the Irish Defence Forces, known as G2 section of the army, have been “keeping an eye” on the Russian officials who have been expelled.
The Taoiseach told the Dail under the 1961 Vienna Convention, four senior officials of the Russian Embassy have been asked to leave the State because their activities are not in accordance with international standards of diplomatic behaviour.
He said: “We've done it [taken action] with some countries today, in terms of these measures and officials. We've worked with other countries on this initiative
A number of other EU States have also expelled Russian diplomats suspected of spying.
Belgium has expelled 21 Russian diplomats for alleged spying and posing threats to security.
The Netherlands has kicked out 17 Russians and the Czech Republic gave one Russian diplomat 72 hours to leave.
When asked about the potential expulsion of the Russian ambassador to Ireland, Mr Martin said: “In terms of the Ambassador, we're anxious to keep channels open.
“We believe that's important in terms of the protection of citizens and also in terms of maintaining the channel to communicate our abhorrence of the war directly to the Russian Federation government.
“It would allow humanitarian responses to situations that may arise and it is important that diplomatic channels can be maintained and kept open.
“That is the motivation behind the decision not to expel the Russian ambassador at this stage.”
READ MORE: Russia to 'drastically reduce' military occupation in Kyiv as hopes of peace grow during talks
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