The Department of Foreign Affairs has stated that Ireland's support for Ukraine is "unwavering" and that "Russian disinformation" will not impact that.
In a statement this afternoon, it reiterated its policy of maintaining diplomatic relations between Ireland and Russia.
It followed a statement from the Russian Embassy in Ireland last night, in which it questioned comments from the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, who had earlier paid tribute to Irish man Finbar Cafferkey, who died while fighting in Ukraine.
The Russian Embassy said it did not know if Mr Martin's remarks signified support for Irish people to take part in the war.
It added that if that were the case, then Ireland would be a direct participant in the conflict with all the ensuing consequences.
Soon afterwards, the chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan, called for the Russian Ambassador to Ireland, Yuri Filatov, to be expelled.
He desribed the remarks by the Russian embassy as "threatening, intimidating and chilling"
This afternoon, the Department of Foreign Affairs reiterated that diplomatic ties between Russia and Ireland would be maintained.
"This is in the interests of our own citizens, both in Russia itself and in the five central Asian republics to which Ireland is accredited via our Embassy in Moscow," it added.
The department also said that "the Government’s position in respect of Russia’s brutal and illegal aggression against Ukraine is crystal clear".
"Ukraine has a right to defend this attack on its sovereignty and territorial integrity, in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter."
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Mr Cafferkey had previous combat experience in the Syrian conflict, and those paying tribute to him have described him as an activist on issues such as environmentalism and migration.
'Odious and utterly insensitive'
Fine Gael TD Kieran O'Donnell said Ireland must maintain diplomatic relations with Russia despite the "odious" and "utterly insensitive" comments made by the Russian embassy.
Speaking on RTÉ's Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin, he said the Government released a strong statement in response, where it has categorically denounced the comments by Mr Filatov.
He said the comments by the Russian Ambassador were "inappropriate" and added that Ireland's position on Ukraine is "crystal clear".
Mr O'Donnell said the message must be loud and clear that while Ireland is militarily neutral it is not politically neutral.
Speaking on the same programme, Bríd Smith, People Before Profit–Solidarity TD, echoed this view and said the ambassador was "way out of order" and that he should apologise to Mr Cafferkey's family.
PBP TD for Dublin South Central @bridsmithTD says the Russian Ambassador should 'butt out' and that he should apologise to the family of Irishman Finbar Cafferkey who was reported to have been killed while serving as a military volunteer in Ukraine earlier this week.@RTERadio1 pic.twitter.com/GOfSCjIQqi
— Saturday RTÉ (@SaturdayRTE) April 29, 2023
She described Mr Cafferkey as a committed young man and free thinker, as she got to know him when they worked alongside each other on the Shell to Sea campaign.
She also described how he spent time in Greece to help refugees.
Sinn Féin's Mairéad Farrell said the ambassador's comments must be adding to the distress for Mr Cafferkey's family, describing them as "completely inappropriate".
"For the Russian Ambassador to use his death in this way is totally shocking," she said.
