Cabinet ‘paranoid’ over Russian spying threats as law targets embassy
SENIOR civil servants have held frequent meetings in recent months about potential Russian spies, the Irish Mail on Sunday has learned.
The news emerges following the passing of sweeping laws on Friday that allow the Government overturn any planning permission granted to a building or installation that could be deemed a threat to national security.
The Irish Mail on Sunday revealed the Government’s intention to introduce the measure, last month.
And during the Dáil debate on the new legislation, Independent TD Catherine Murphy asked Junior Minister Damien English if the measure was being introduced because of newspaper coverage of the expansion at the Russian Embassy. Minister English only said that there was no particular
‘It’s a weird one, weird stuff goes on there’
reason he was at liberty to share.
A senior source said last night that the Government is in a ‘state of paranoia’ about Russia, principally since the chemical attacks in Salsibury, England, and because of general concern about espionage in the European Union.
An emergency task force meeting was briefed last week by a Government communications expert about concerns relating to cyber attacks.
However, the Government has not given tangible evidence of espionage activity by Russia here.
‘It is a weird one, there is weird stuff going on there,’ said a Government source. ‘The Sec Gens have a meeting almost every week about that, on Russia. About the embassy, Justice, Defence etc. They are worried about the Russians. We were at the emergency task force meeting during the week and the communications guy was saying that they are extremely worried about the Russians and the cyber stuff.’
Ministers have confirmed that the planning law changes were brought to Cabinet by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan last month. It was initiated because of the new, gargantuan Russian Embassy, in leafy Rathgar, which has been expanded from 2000 sq m to 10,000 sq m in three years. The MoS has learned that senior gardaí advised the Government on the changes after an investigation revealed the facility could be used for spying.
The Dáil passed Amendment 45 to the Planning and Development Bill 2016 on Friday evening.
It gave the Goverment power to revoke or modify planning permission if ministers were satisfied that carrying out a development is likely to be harmful to: the security of the State; the State’s relations with other states; or in the public interest. The amendment also says ministers may discuss the move with other agencies but if the minister feels prior discussion will affect state security there may be no prior notice of the use of this draconian power.
The ongoing building project at the Russian Embassy has increased its size fivefold. Work to extend the 2,000sq.m 19th-century house on Orwell Road to 10,000sq.m began in 2015 after the Ambassador received planning permission from Dublin City Council. Senior Garda sources said they investigated activities at the site and believe the expansion is ‘connected to spying’.
A source said: ‘We believe ultimately the chief targets are our European neighbours and Britain, they’re genuine military powers.
‘Spying doesn’t only involve the old manual techniques from John le Carré books. Technological spying and eavesdropping are now the major concerns. Our investigations into this expanded embassy were passed on to the Government.’