The Russian Ambassador has said Moscow is open to discussions on supplying the Sputnik V vaccine to Ireland "if there is an interest" from the Government.
Ambassador Yuriy Filatov said the Russian administration was open to collaboration with all interested parties, with "no strings attached".
Mr Filatov said the embassy in Dublin had been contacted by many people seeking information about vaccine supplies.
In response to a query from the Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, he denied that Russia was playing "geopolitical games" with vaccines.
Cllr James Charity wrote to the ambassador last week, querying if supplies could be made available and, if so, what the volume and time frame for delivery might be.
The Independent Councillor said he was prompted to write to the Russian Embassy due to frustration at the pace of the vaccination programme in Ireland in recent weeks.
The Sputnik V vaccine has not yet been approved for use in the European Union.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is carrying out a rolling review of the vaccine, with data reviewed as it becomes available, to decide if the benefits outweigh the risks.
On Friday, Deputy Chief Medical Office Dr Ronan Glynn said Ireland would not consider making its own decision on the Sputnik V vaccine to address the shortage of available doses in the country.
Dr Glynn said Ireland would never go outside the EMA process.
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