Kildare TD hits out at Russian ambassador following sightings of ships near west coast

An Independent TD has reacted to the announcement that the Irish Defence Forces (DF) are monitoring Russian commercial ships off the west coast.

Dr Cathal Berry, who previously served with the Irish Army Ranger Wing, was critical of the presence of the ships, and also of Russian ambassador to Ireland Yury Filatov while speaking to Newstalk radio station.

Yesterday, the Department of Defence said that the DF have monitored Russian commercial ships both outside and inside Ireland's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

A spokesperson for the Department explained: "As part of their Maritime, Defence and Security Operations (MDSO), the Irish Air Corps Maritime Patrol Aircraft have observed Russian commercial vessels in international waters off the island of Ireland.  

"These vessels have now left Ireland's EEZ."

The spokesperson added: "The Irish Air Corps and the Irish Naval Service continue to monitor activity in Irish waters and to undertake Maritime Defence and Security Operations (MDSO) throughout Ireland's maritime domain."

Explaining his views, Dr Berry told Newstalk: "A new subsea communications cable was opened in November four months ago, connecting Galway to Iceland, and there is a good possibility that they were at least monitoring the situation up there.

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"'Was there strategic intent?' is likely what you're trying to ascertain, and most likely, yes, there was.

He also made reference to a recent letter by Mr Filatov, which was addressed to The Irish Times.

"He was basically saying 'there is nothing to see here.' 

"This the Russian strategic culture, they will always try deception... if Yury Filatov says that something isn't happening, you can be pretty sure that the opposite is in fact happening, he will try to convince you that left is right, night is day, and that the world is actually flat."

He also acknowledged that Ireland has 'very little capability' to counter what is happening off the west coast, and that Ireland 'has absolutely no sovereign underwater capability whatsoever.'

Dr Berry is not the only politician who has been critical of Mr Filatov in recent days: Independent Cork South-West TD Michael Collins also called on the ambassador to answer questions about the activities of two Russian ships in Irish waters while speaking to Newstalk.

In related news, Dr Berry welcomed a report by the The Independent Review Group’s (IRG), which found that almost 90 per week of female respondents said they had experienced some form of sexual harassment while serving with the Irish Army.

He criticised the DF following the publication of the report while attending a Dáil session, where he said: "People are in disbelief, they are in a state of collective shock, and they feel hugely, hugely let down (by the Defence Forces)."