Daly and Wallace have urgent questions to answer about relationship with exposed MEP Ždanoka –– Doherty

Irish MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace must immediately clarify the nature of their relationship with the Latvian MEP Tatjana Ždanoka, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Regina Doherty made her comments following the decision of the European Parliament yesterday to open an official investigation into allegations that the Latvian MEP has worked in co-operation with Russian intelligence services since 2004.

“It is deeply concerning that two Irish MEPs could work so closely with somebody who has now been outed as a Kremlin asset and working to help Russia’s interests against Europe.

“It is a matter of public record that Daly and Wallace have travelled with MEP Ždanoka in the past on several occasions, as well as participating in numerous events with her in the European Parliament. This includes an event in the European Parliament which sought to blame Ukraine for Russia’s invasion of the country. *MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace confirm that they did not travel with MEP Zdanoka to an event in Lithuania, which confirmation is accepted.*

“It is well understood that Russia has an extensive intelligence network active in Brussels and across the EU and any contact with Russian operatives, whether intentional or otherwise, must be regarded as a serious risk to Irish and EU security.

“With European Elections being held in June of this year, it is critically important that our voters have confidence that their MEPs will be working to advance Irish interests in Brussels, not those of the Putin regime. To restore this confidence, both Daly and Wallace must make a detailed and thorough statement outlining the nature of their relationship with MEP Ždanoka.

“There must be a zero-tolerance policy for colluding with regimes that are actively hostile to both the European Union and Ireland”, concluded Senator Doherty.