Taoiseach Simon Harris. Photo: PA
Taoiseach Simon Harris today deflected a question as to whether ‘Agent Cobalt’, an alleged Russian spy in the Oireachtas, should identify himself – as rumours swirled that he might be preparing to do so.
Mr Harris said he was fully aware of the male politician’s identity, but said he was “limited in what I can say” on the matter.
“What I’ve been saying in relation to national security is that generally we don’t comment,” he said on the first day of his trip to Washington.
“We do that to keep our people safe, to keep our country safe as well. I think we need to be alert in Ireland to the fact that we’re not immune from Russian influence.
“Russia is a country that seeks to actively influence public debate and discourse, and I think it’s also a statement of fact to say that that level of activity has increased by Russia since their brutal and evil invasion of Ukraine, and therefore the Gardaí and our security services obviously monitor these matters very closely.
“What I can definitely say is this, that the Gardaí take these matters extremely seriously, that there are laws in our country, that laws are enforced, that laws are followed, and that the laws of the land are rigorous to be applied in all cases.”
Asked about his own briefing about Cobalt’s alleged activities, he said: “I don’t want to be unhelpful, but generally by commenting one way or the other, it breaches a rule in terms of not commenting on matters of national security.
“But I do take seriously the issue in relation to Russian activity across the European Union, and in many countries across the world.
“Ireland isn’t immune from that. There are bad actors who seek to influence and distort public discourse. And like I say, Ireland shouldn’t think it is immune.”
Mr Harris said ‘Cobalt’ was a codeword that had been conferred by a newspaper in making allegations that the man had been recruited as an agent by Russia. “It’s not a name that has been given by Gardaí,” Mr Harris said.
It comes after The Sunday Times reported that Russian intelligence recruited an Irish politician to act as an agent during Brexit negotiations.
The Taoiseach said it was “not a priority” for him to emulate Transport Minister Eamon Ryan’s call for Cobalt to be publicly identified. “My priority is making sure the Gardaí are empowered to keep the country safe,” Mr Harris said.
