OnTheOneRoad wrote: I don't think the Russians will particularly care about what we've done, but i also agree we shouldn't, as a neutral country, get involved in such diplomatic sanctions based on the say-so of a foreign country playing war games. Simon Coveney says this is to 'show solidarity with our nearest neighbour' - that being the one we are at loggerheads with over their complete disregard for a crucially important question to us over our border, in the event they shoot themselves in the foot by leaving the EU. That solidarity has gone unreciprocated when it matters time and time again. We shouldn't be getting involved in this as a neutral country. Austria didn't follow suit for the same reason, and cited a desire to build bridges between east and west. We ought to have done the same.

irishmufc wrote: I don't think we're any more vulnerable to attack than we would be if we stayed out of it and all I can see is that we can only lose out having needlessly bad relations with Russia.  I could understand if we gained something in return from the UK (more favourable terms on the Brexit/border issue) but it seems like a needlessly self-inflicted wound but we'll agree to disagree.

Shedite wrote: Anyone see PrimeTime last night? The Russians are building an expanded embassy in Rathfarnham, adding a load of underground rooms that they claim are extra car parking and accommodation. This despite the fact that they reduced the numbers working here by 30% in the past few years. What the f**k are they building there

Bob Hoskins wrote: Shedite wrote: Anyone see PrimeTime last night? The Russians are building an expanded embassy in Rathfarnham, adding a load of underground rooms that they claim are extra car parking and accommodation. This despite the fact that they reduced the numbers working here by 30% in the past few years. What the f**k are they building there  Where in Ruzthfarnham commrade is this been built?

Russian Embassy

Het-field wrote: OnTheOneRoad wrote: I don't think the Russians will particularly care about what we've done, but i also agree we shouldn't, as a neutral country, get involved in such diplomatic sanctions based on the say-so of a foreign country playing war games. Simon Coveney says this is to 'show solidarity with our nearest neighbour' - that being the one we are at loggerheads with over their complete disregard for a crucially important question to us over our border, in the event they shoot themselves in the foot by leaving the EU. That solidarity has gone unreciprocated when it matters time and time again. We shouldn't be getting involved in this as a neutral country. Austria didn't follow suit for the same reason, and cited a desire to build bridges between east and west. We ought to have done the same. The Russians want nothing to do with that. I would agree with that logic if I didnt feel there was such bad faith in the way Russia is currently conducting its domestic and foreign policy. They have no interest in bridge building. Also, Austria's current administration is not something I would look at as something to admire considering the junior party of Government.

OnTheOneRoad wrote: true, but it would be a handy excuse for us not to pursue a foreign policy which is based on populism that doesn't even emerge from our own country

The policeman injured in the nerve gas attack has left hospital. Mr Skripal's daughter is seemingly on the mend (to an extent anyway) and off the critical list. So the deadly nerve gas attack may not have been deadly ? Dunno if that means anything in the big scheme of things, but several sources of information were insisting up to yesterday that the 2 of them were more or less clinically dead. 

Obviously Ireland went for the token gesture of expelling just 1 diplomat but we shouldn't be expelling any. We never expell American, British, French, UK or Chinese diplomats when they kill innocents and i can guarantee you the Americans have assisinated many a man, you just don't ever find out in the media. Hypocritical doing it for just the russians and not in our interests.

I don't think it is in the Constitution that we are neutral