The Russian ambassador to Ireland has been labelled a liar in the Dáil amid calls for his expulsion.
The Government says it has no plans to kick Yuri Filatov out of the country amid concerns about Russia removing the Irish ambassador in turn.
The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have said the Government needs to have representatives in Moscow to help Irish citizens living there.
But Labour leader Alan Kelly says there is no point having an ambassador you can't trust:
"The Russian Ambassador is a liar. He has lied to the Irish people. We need to get rid of him" the Tipperary TD said in the Dáil chamber today.
"I accept what you're saying and it's a valid argument, however I don't agree with you" Kelly told Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
"I think the Irish people want us to lead. They don't want this man in this country, they don't want his colleagues in this country, they don't want a military attaché in this country."
It's as Russian authorities have claimed responsibilty for a missile attack on a TV tower in Kyiv yesterday which killed five people.
However the Kremlin is denying its troops are killing civilians and are trying to denazify Ukraine.
