Taoiseach mislead the Dáil on summoning the Russian Ambassador

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Fianna Fáil TD and Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade Darragh O’Brien has said that the Taoiseach has misled the Dáil on summoning the Russian Ambassador to relay Ireland’s revulsion to their actions in Aleppo.


Commenting on the issue Deputy O’Brien said, “During Leaders Questions on the 4th of October the Taoiseach made the following statement ‘the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade called in the Russian ambassador last Tuesday and left him in no uncertain terms as to how this country feels about the human catastrophe that is unfolding and has unfolded in Syria and particularly Aleppo’.


“However, I had a meeting yesterday with the Russian ambassador to express my party's revulsion with what is happening and he stated that he did not meet with the Minister.


“Furthermore, I tabled a written parliamentary question asking the date and time that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade summoned the Ambassador and my question was disallowed. However, a similar question tabled by another Deputy to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade confirms the Ambassador met with two senior Government officials rather than the Minister himself.


“This is a very serious matter and I will be asking the Taoiseach to correct the Dáil record. Moreover, the situation in Aleppo is appalling and it is imperative that the Irish people have clarity in relation to the actions that our Government is taking on this issue. The Russian Ambassador should be summoned and the Minister for Foreign Affairs should be taken a much more hands role in expressing Ireland's utter condemnation of what is happening in Aleppo.”