THE GOVERNMENT WOULD support EU sanctions on Aughinish Alumina if an ongoing investigation confirms concerns that its exports may be feeding into supply chains linked to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, Minister of State Seán Canney has indicated.
Speaking on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics this afternoon, Canney said the matter was under active examination and stressed the State would act if required.
“If sanctions have to be taken, they will be taken,” Canney said, adding that “there’s nobody shirking on the responsibility” as officials await the outcome of a Department of Enterprise review.
The controversy centres on claims that alumina produced at the Russian-owned plant in Foynes, Co Limerick (operated by Rusal, which is controlled by oligarch Oleg Deripaska) is being shipped in significant volumes into supply chains that ultimately link back to Russia’s industrial and military sector.
While alumina itself is not currently subject to EU sanctions, the plant has come under scrutiny over whether its output could indirectly support Russia’s war economy.
Canney said any action would depend on “reliable and hard evidence” and noted that the investigation is expected to report within the next two weeks.
He also pointed to the potential impact on more than 500 direct jobs at the Limerick facility, warning that wider European supply chains and downstream industries would also have to be considered.
Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney said the review must be completed urgently, arguing that delays undermine Ireland’s credibility as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine and civilian deaths mount.
“This is likely to be fuelling the weapons that are now raining down on people in Ukraine, on Kyiv, so I think we have to make sure that [the review] is done speedily,” Gibney told RTÉ’s The Week in Politics.
Speaking on the same show, Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy said Ireland should ensure it is not contributing to Russia’s war effort, while also calling for engagement with the company to explore alternative markets and protect jobs.
“This is a premium product. What I want to know is, have the government been engaging with the company to find alternative markets, because it is inconceivable that we have a situation where there is a war because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, that we know it will be in all of our interests to bring that war to an end, yet [Russia] is sourcing supplies for lethal weapons from this state,” Carthy said.
The issue has put pressure on the government as it prepares for its EU Council presidency next month, with ministers balancing economic and employment concerns against foreign policy commitments on sanctions.
Tánaiste Simon Harris has previously said new information on Aughinish “cannot be dismissed or overlooked”, with any potential sanctions decisions expected to be taken at EU level once the Department of Enterprise investigation concludes.