The Irish Government has been urged to review all its cybersecurity after allegations that Russian spies hacked former British Prime MInister Liz Truss' private mobile phone when she was UK Foreign Secretary.
A number of Coalition sources stressed the issue is being taken seriously, although they don't normally comment on security issues. He said: "Ireland doesn't really do security, whether it is energy, national or cyber. It's all treated with the same degree of complacency."I was particularly surprised last year to hear that some Government ministers bring their mobile phones into cabinet meetings with them rather than leaving them outside the room, which is international best practice.
There were also fears within the Government that the Russians would attempt to interfere with the internet cables and gas pipelines off the coast in the Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean, bringing the country to its knees. Former Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan confronted Yuri Filatov face to face at a private diplomatic party last week over his threats and for peddling Vladamir Putin's lies over the war in Ukraine.
The Government has been reluctant up to now to kick Filatov out of the country despite backbench demands, with both the Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Mr Coveney keen to keep some direct contact with the Russians.