Dublin MEP Barry Andrews has claimed Ireland is now a “back door” to Russian spies wanting to get into Britain as alarming visa approval rates have been exposed.
Russian police officers in Red Square(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Ireland has become a “back door” to Russian spies as thousands of nationals are granted visas every year, as a Fianna Fail MEP claims British officials are concerned about the statistics.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, Ireland has granted 14,000 visas to Russian nationals – at a staggering approval rate of 90%. Speaking on Newstalk, Dublin MEP Barry Andrews said officials in London have sent stark warnings about the nationals and their motives behind visiting Ireland.
“That’s why I’m concerned about whether or not we’re carrying out sufficient due diligence about these applications and whether the grants are robust, and whether we have reason to be concerned about Russian nefarious activities in Ireland,” he said. “Unfortunately, there’s quite a lot of evidence of nefarious activities by Russia in Ireland, a lot of evidence of aircraft and ships going around our coasts.”
Andrews expressed his fear that the country has become a “back door” for Russians who want to get to the UK and urged for a more extensive vetting process for visas. However, the MEP asserted he believes a blanket ban on Russians entering the country would be a disproportional use of state power.
He explained: “I actually got an email this morning from a Russian lady, who lives in Dublin, and she hasn’t been able to bring her mother over to visit her grandchild for more than a year. She’s had five or six visas, no problem, complied with all the terms of the visas and went back within the time frame that she was required to return.”
Andrews assured the government must “be careful not to catch people who have very legitimate reasons to get a visa”, which a blanket ban would do. Another point of contention for Andrews is Ireland assuming the EU presidency this summer, which he says “puts a target on your back”.
“Countries that have had the presidency have had their airports shut down, they’ve have infrastructure obstacles put in their way,” he continued. “There have been various drone incursions, so Ireland is unfortunately very much in the crosshairs.”
The member of the European parliament said it’s high time “for us to have a proper X-ray of how we’re granting visas, short-term and long-term visas to Russians and Belarusians coming to Ireland”. The Defense Forces, however, are aware of the dangers that come with assuming the presidency and have devoted much time and resources in preparation.
This will be Ireland’s eighth time taking on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, lasting from July 1 to December 31, 2026. The country will be responsible for setting the EU agenda, chairing council meetings and brokering legislative negotiations among fellow member states.
Want to see more of the stories you love from Dublin Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Dublin Live as a preferred source, simply click here.
Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.