The Foreign Affairs Minister has again refused to expel the Russian ambassador after his country's attempted annexation of parts of Ukraine.
Simon Coveney called Ambassador Yuri Filatov into his department to express the Irish government's total opposition to the sham referendums.
Despite the strong words to the ambassador, the Minister says it's important he remain in the country:
"I totally understand that sense of sentiment, that frustration and that anger and wanting to send that clear signal. I think keeping diplomatic channels open, making it very clear to Russia what we think of their actions, of the illegality of their actions, being able to call in an ambassador to send direct messages to Moscow and to the Kremlin is I think both helpful and appropriate."
