Government accused of  'sleepwalking' into alumina exports crisis

Simon Harris said the Government needs to “follow the evidence” on the Aughinish Alumina plant, citing the ongoing investigation by the Department of Enterprise.

Government has been accused of “sleepwalking” into the crisis around alumina exports to Russia.

But in the Dáil, Tánaiste Simon Harris pushed back on the criticism over Aughinish Alumina, saying ministers would be led by an upcoming report from the Department of Enterprise.

At the final Leaders’ Questions of the Dáil term, Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan said it was likely that the Government’s awaited report on Aughinish Alumina would be a “fudge”.

“Exports of alumina to Russia have skyrocketed since the invasion of Ukraine. We know it is being sent to a smelter that supplies the Russian war machine,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

“The Tánaiste should not be waiting for a report to lay out what has been staring him in the face for years. Alumina from Ireland is being used to make Russian weapons."

The Dublin Bay North TD said the Government had “sleep-walked” into the crisis, adding there had been ample time to address the matter since the war began in 2022.

Mr O’Callaghan said the inaction of the Government is putting workers' jobs at risk at the Co Limerick plant.

“The Tánaiste's Government had the power to step in years ago to ban the sale of alumina to Russia and help the plant to find alternative markets. This would have been much easier to do in 2022 when exports to Russia were much lower,” he told the Dáil.

In response, Simon Harris said the Government needs to “follow the evidence” on the plant, citing the ongoing investigation by the Department of Enterprise.

“It is important to await the conclusion of that investigation. It is analysing data. It has been in contact with the plant. It is trying to establish the veracity of information that is in the media about the supply chain for alumina from the company,” Mr Harris said.

The Fine Gael leader said he expects the final report to be completed shortly, at which point it will be sent to the European Commission for consideration.

On jobs at the plant, Mr Harris said if the European Commission proposes sanctions on alumina, there will need to be a conversation about workers at the site.

“I have consistently said governments need to be able to do more than one thing. We are very clear that one cannot cherry-pick when it comes to sanctions,” Mr Harris said.

• Tadgh McNally is a Political Reporter.