Limerick plant wins legal battle in Europe

AUGHINISH Alumina and the Government have won a legal battle against the European Commission in a case that had threatened the future of some jobs at the company’s Askeaton plant in Limerick.

The European Court of Justice yesterday ruled the commission was wrong to try to end an exemption which Aughinish enjoyed from paying tax on oil used in the production of alumina.

The legal action was taken by Aughinish and two other alumina producers in France and Italy and supported by the Irish Government.