‘We need clarity on how we deal with spies’ Irish threat’
THE Government needs to clarify if gardaí are adequately resourced to deal with potential threats from Russian spies here, it has been claimed.
Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin has called on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan to outline how serious Irish authorities are taking the reports that Russian spies have increased their activities in Ireland.
Mr Howlin said he plans to raise the ‘disturbing’ allegations about Russian activities here in the Dáil when it reconvenes next week, and he is also calling upon the Taoiseach and Mr Flanagan to clarify if they are ‘satisfied’ the gardaí are ‘adequately resourced to deal with any potential threat’.
This comes on foot of a report in the Sunday Times which stated that Russian intelligence services have ‘increased their activities in Ireland to spy on companies involved in the technology, engineering and scientific sectors’.
The paper stated that this information had come from Garda headquarters.
Mr Howlin yesterday said there were ‘deeply disturbing reports about Russiansponsored activity in Ireland’ following the hospitalisation of a former Russian spy in the UK last week.
‘I will be calling on the Taoiseach and the Minister for Jus- tice to make a statement on the issue,’ he said.
Mr Varadkar was asked about the report in the Sunday Times during his visit to Austin, Texas, yesterday.
The Taoiseach said: ‘I’ve no information on that at the moment and am not in a position to comment’.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice said: ‘An Garda Síochána carries out a range of functions in safeguarding national security, including protecting the State and its vital interests from espionage and unlawful acts of foreign interference. In doing so, the Garda authorities work very closely with other relevant authorities, including the Defence Forces.’