Taoiseach Micheal Martin has indicated the Government will extend the Russian Ambassador’s visa.
The Irish Mirror revealed yesterday that Yury Filatov’s visa is due to expire within weeks.
The Russian Embassy has written twice to the Department of Foreign Affairs asking for it to be extended so he can remain.
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There have been repeated calls to expel Mr Filatov as a result of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Mr Martin would not say explicitly if he expected the Government to renew the visa.
However, he said: “The Government’s position in relation to the diplomatic relationship between the Russian Federation and Ireland still stands.
“I don’t ordinarily get involved in these applications.
“We don’t get into the visa side, if we’re going to do something it’d be on a policy basis.”
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said “we should keep him” when he was asked about the possibility of not renewing the visa.
He told Pat Kenny on Newstalk: “I know that’s a difficult argument to make but the reason we should keep him is even in such appalling circumstances we are now in, countries do need to talk to each other.
“We’ve Irish people in Russia.”
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