Concerns Over Ireland as a Potential Hub for Russian Influence Activity

UK officials have raised concerns that Ireland could serve as a “back door” for Russian intelligence activity due to its comparatively permissive visa regime and limited intelligence resources. According to Barry Andrews, a Fianna Fáil MEP, Ireland has granted around 14,000 visas to Russian nationals since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with an approval rate of roughly 90 per cent. As part of the Common Travel Area with the UK, Ireland's visa policies may create concerns about the ease of onward travel to Britain.

The warning comes amid wider concern about Russian intelligence and influence activity in Ireland. Andrews said Ireland should conduct a “proper X-ray” of visa approvals for Russians and Belarusians, including social media checks and interviews, especially as Ireland prepares to take on the EU presidency in July. Previous incidents have added to these fears: four Russian diplomats were expelled from Ireland in 2022 over activities deemed inconsistent with diplomatic allowances, while Irish security figures have described the country as vulnerable to hybrid attacks because of its weak security culture, strategic infrastructure and concentration of US technology companies.