Simon Coveney: Russian ban of officials an attempt to 'unsettle Ireland'

Foreign affairs minister said Ireland's role is to hold Russia accountable for the atrocities committed in Ukraine

Simon Coveney said that he did not want to comment on who was on the sanctions list and who was not.

The foreign affairs minister has said the decision by Russia to ban 52 Irish officials, including politicians, is a "very unwelcome distraction" and an effort to unsettle Ireland and its political system.

Simon Coveney said that Ireland should not play this game. He said the role of Ireland in holding Russia to account for the atrocities it is committing in Ukraine has been very effective and we should continue to focus our attention on this.