Peadar Tóibín, leader of Aontú, has urged Irish political factions to examine their members for signs of any possible communication with Russian intelligence. This comes after Tóibín disclosed that he was solicited to meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2017.
At the time, Tóibín, as a Sinn Féin member, was contacted through a consultancy firm on multiple occasions. He reported being proposed a luxury hotel stay for a business trip, which later included a potential meeting with Putin.
The disclosure comes on the heels of a Sunday Times article that reported the recruitment of an Oireachtas member by Russian intelligence as an “agent of influence”, a situation Tóibín characterised as gravely serious.
Tóibín asserted that he declined the 2017 offer because he perceived Putin’s regime as notably undemocratic. He expressed his reluctance to associate with a government of such nature.
Sinn Féin, upon being informed about these contact details, has reportedly established that the party did not send a representative to the intended event.
Tóibín pointed out the severity of the situation, considering the ongoing Ukrainian war and Ireland’s role in the European Union. He expressed certainty that Ireland could be a potential target for Russian espionage.
Highlighting the threat of improper foreign influence, Tóibín encouraged Irish political groups to assess their member profiles for indications of similar solicitations.
In response to the Sunday Times report, Taoiseach Simon Harris asserted that Russian attempts to skew and manipulate Ireland’s public opinion should not come as a surprise.