Three independent Senators have slammed the Dáil invitation to the Russian ambassador, Yury Filatov, to come to Leinster House on Wednesday to hear a video address from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Senators Michael McDowell, Victor Boyhan and David Norris have tabled an amendment to a motion which states “diplomatic representatives of the Russian Federation shall not be present at the joint sitting".
Senator McDowell said: “Due to Russia’s illegal invasion and the human rights abuses committed by the Russian Armed Forces in Mariupol, the Russian Ambassador should not have been invited to this event in the Oireachtas.”
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Senator Boyhan said: “As elected politicians, we need to represent the views of the Irish people who have expressed solidarity with Ukraine and think about what message this sends out.”
Senator McDowell added: “This is a very ill-thought-out political decision.
“We should not be inviting representatives of the Russian Federation to Leinster House at this time.
“Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war will be in the distinguished visitors' gallery.
“What does it say about us as a nation if we’re organising an event where they must encounter civilly the Russian Ambassador either at the main event or in the environs of Leinster House?”
It later emerged that the Russian ambassador will not be taking up the invite to come to Leinster House.
It is understood the Russian embassy did not formally respond to the official invite, but a deadline for reply expired on Monday evening and no response had been received from the Russians.
45 other countries with diplomatic missions in Ireland responded to say they would be sending representatives to hear the speech in Leinster House on Wednesday morning.
The Russian embassy was contacted by the Irish Mirror for comment.
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