Concerns about foreign intelligence activity in Ireland are back in focus after Dublin MEP Barry Andrews asked Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan whether Russian nationals granted Irish visas since the invasion of Ukraine were being screened for potential hostile links. The question has sharpened debate over how prepared the state is to detect and manage espionage risks.
In this context, Sinéad O'Sullivan sets out a practical guide to dealing with the possibility of a spy operating inside Ireland. Framed as six steps with an added appendix, the piece appears aimed at helping readers think systematically about how foreign intelligence assets may be identified rather than treating the issue as abstract or far-fetched.
The article ties national security concerns to immigration vetting, state capacity and the broader geopolitical fallout from Russia's war in Ukraine. Its central argument is that small countries cannot assume they are outside the reach of foreign intelligence services and need clear ways to assess suspicious activity.
Rather than presenting espionage as a cinematic threat, the analysis places emphasis on screening, verification and institutional awareness. The result is a timely look at how Ireland might strengthen its defenses against covert foreign influence and intelligence operations.
