Spies, chocolates and vodka: Behind the scenes of suspicious approaches to Irish politicians [Video]

IRELAND IS NOT immune from proxies pushing foreign Government influence and approaches to parliamentarians and state officials, multiple sources have told The Journal. 

People with knowledge of the security environment said there have been a number of approaches by foreign Governments, including Russia, in recent years to members of the Oireachtas. 

High-ranking officials at state institutions have also been approached, sources said. 

Assessments found that there was little risk involved as the people targeted did not have significant access to confidential information.

And while there have been numerous incidents, many of them have been investigated and assessed as being part of the normal day-to-day interactions of diplomats seeking to make connections.

Only a small number of incidents have been judged by security services to have more sinister motivations. 

In one of the most serious incidents, a male politician is believed to have been compromised in an attempted blackmail incident following a romantic …