Cabinet tension grows over spy row

THERE are still serious Cabinet tensions over the decision by Leo Varadkar to ‘lead the posse’ and expel a Russian diplomat on spying suspicion, as part of the EU response to the poisoning of two Russians in the UK.

Sources from the Department of Foreign Affairs have attempted to close the book on the issue by noting it had today been confirmed that the diplomat has left the jurisdiction.

However, the Cabinet split is likely to widen after Independent Alliance minister Finian McGrath said he still has ‘major ongoing concerns about the decision’.

Echoing, his ministerial and Independent Alliance colleague John Halligan’s concerns that democratic norms had been broken by ‘the rush to judgment’, Mr McGrath said: ‘I simply do not trust the international intelligence services’. He added that ‘Cabinet debate is good, we are a partnership government’, however, Mr Varadkar is likely to be less enthused; given that concern is now expressed within FG over the actions.

FG sources said the Government cannot ‘make up Foreign Affairs policy on the hoof. This is not the Trinity L&H. Like Haughey and L’etat Cest Moi – rather like Haughey he seems to think the Cabinet are optional extras’.