Irish opposition parties critical of gov't expulsion of Russian diplomat

DUBLIN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Several opposition parties in Ireland on Tuesday criticized the government's decision to expel a Russian diplomat over an alleged nerve toxin attack in Britain earlier this month, local media RTE reported.

Mary Lou MacDonald, leader of the country's third largest political party Sinn Fein, said that the government's decision was based on information from a foreign security service.

"In essence Taoiseach (prime minister in Irish), you are asking us to trust Boris Johnson (Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs), and I dare say that this may not be the wisest course of action," she said.

She accused the Irish Prime Minister of attempting to dismantle Ireland's neutrality.

Mary Lou's view was partially echoed by the Labor Party leader Brendan Howlin who said that Ireland is a long-standing, non-aligned and neutral country and that it should protect this.

Howlin said, "We have never expelled diplomats in solidarity with somebody else, unless Ireland or Irish citizens were directly affected."

He believed that the expulsion of a Russian diplomat in Ireland is sending a wrong signal.

Boyd Barret, a parliamentarian of the lower house from Solidarity-People Before Profit, described the decision as "a very stupid and dangerous move" by the government which fundamentally undermines the country's neutrality.

He added that the government's expulsion statement "provided absolutely no evidence of as to an independent assessment by the Irish Government as to who carried out this atrocity and the Taoiseach said last week Ireland did not have the means to carry out such an assessment."

Fianna Fail, the country's second largest political party, has voiced support for the government's decision. A foreign affairs spokesman of the party said that "We believe this action is appropriate and proportionate and it sends a clear message that no country is above international law."

The Irish government's decision to expel a Russian diplomat was announced after a cabinet meeting was held here on Tuesday morning to review a security assessment report about the activities of the Russian diplomats in Ireland.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said that the decision for the expulsion was an act of solidarity with Britain. Enditem