Kallas Says Facts on Aughinish Must Be Clarified
"So we want this war to stop. And sometimes companies are thinking that, 'I still benefit from this, and it doesn't really concern me'.
Questions over the role of one of Ireland’s biggest industrial sites in Russia’s war economy moved sharply into focus after EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the facts around Aughinish Alumina must be fully established, while making clear that Brussels is relying on Ireland to carry out the investigation.
The Limerick-based refinery is under scrutiny amid allegations that alumina shipped from the plant ultimately reaches Russia’s war machine, supporting a campaign that has killed thousands in Ukraine.
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Speaking on RTÉ’s Six One, she said the full picture around the refinery has yet to be established, but added that the war in Ukraine is inflicting damage across Europe as well as on Ukraine itself.
“So we want this war to stop. And sometimes companies are thinking that, ‘I still benefit from this, and it doesn’t really concern me’.
“So that’s why it is important that we look into what more can we do.
“Because I think having this war ongoing is more damaging to everybody than stopping it.”
Ms Kallas said she was not in possession of all the facts concerning Aughinish Alumina and that statements issued by the company would be examined.
She added: “There are companies that are suffering more of the sanctions than the others. But again, if you think that you’re benefiting from the trade with Russia that actually is fueling this war, then we are not doing all the efforts that we can.”
She said companies would not ordinarily receive advance warning of sanctions, because doing so could allow them to restructure and blunt the intended impact.
Watch: full interview with Kaja Kallas on Six One News
Kaja Kallas made the remarks in Dublin after meetings with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs
Ms Kallas is in Dublin today, where she met Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee before Ireland takes on the six-month Presidency of the Council of the EU next month.
At a joint news conference with Minister McEntee, both faced questions over the controversy surrounding rising exports from Aughinish Alumina to Russia.
Ms Kallas said: “The investigations are ongoing, and for us it’s important that we get the facts straight. Now we are trusting the Irish Government to do this investigation.”
The Department of Enterprise is examining the allegations, but that process has yet to reach a conclusion.
Minister Helen McEntee confirmed the matter came up during the talks.
“Of course, we discussed the issue of Aughinish Alumina, and I have made it very clear that our support remains firmly with Ukraine, and that once the investigation that is underway concludes, that information will be provided to the commission, and we will work directly with them.
“We will ensure that any decisions that need to be taken to put pressure on Russia, that they will have the full support of Ireland.”
Ms Kallas was also asked why alumina was left out of the 21st round of EU sanctions against Russia announced today.
“We have a huge list of companies, including also crypto that we haven’t had in that amount before, oil refineries and all.
“It is always a question, what more can we do, and I think this case shows that we should also look into this, that the material that Russia needs to continue with its war, whether it’s, you know, different types of metals, whether it’s oil refinery products that they need, we need to look at, and we have to be creative in coming up with the next sanctions.”
Ms Kallas also said EU member states held different views on whether alumina should be added to a future sanctions package.
Europe decides what gets sanctioned, Taoiseach says
The meeting between Taoiseach Micheál Martin and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas took place at Iveagh House
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has previously argued that including alumina would be “self-defeating”, saying such a move would inflict greater damage on the EU than on Russia.
In the Dáil, Mr Martin said Ireland will “work with” the European Commission to find a way through the issue, while cautioning opposition parties that there is “no magical solution” to the controversy.
Mr Martin was responding to Labour leader Ivana Bacik during today’s Leaders’ Questions debate.
After Deputy Bacik said “a solution must be found” to safeguard Irish jobs while also addressing concerns about the plant, the Taoiseach replied that the issue is complex and, in the end, falls under “European competency, the EU decides what gets sanctioned” rather than being a matter for Ireland alone.
He said “we will work with the European Commission in respect of Aughinish”, but stressed: “When I heard you say ‘many, many jobs are at stake and a solution must be found’, lets all be very honest.
“I don’t think I should sugar-coat it and say there’s a magical solution, it’ll all be alright on the other side. It’s a European competency, Europe decides what gets sanctioned.”
EU targets Russian combatants in latest sanctions
The European Commission today adopted its 21st sanctions package against Russia, more than four years after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Under the package, Russian combatants would be barred from entering the European Union, 30 ships will be added to the list of 632 already targeted, and 31 additional Russian banks will also face measures.
Member states will now have several weeks to examine the sanctions before they take legal effect.
The 21st package of sanctions will bar Russian combatants from entering the EU (File image)
It is understood that Aughinish Alumina, the Co Limerick refinery at the centre of controversy over increased alumina exports to Russia, was not included in the sanctions package.
Shipments of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of alumina from Aughinish to Russia have drawn mounting attention in the international media.
The allegation, first reported in March by a consortium of European media outlets, including The Irish Times, is that alumina shipped from the plant ultimately ends up in weapons systems Russia has used to kill tens of thousands of civilians in Ukraine.
The company has said it complies with EU sanctions, but because alumina itself has not been sanctioned, that argument has done little to convince sceptics, including a growing number of Irish MEPs facing questions from colleagues in Brussels.
It is understood that senior EU officials and several member states believe a more detailed assessment is required to determine whether sanctioning the company, which supplies more than 30% of Europe’s alumina needs, could end up hurting the EU more than Russia.
For six months, Ireland will be responsible for organising and chairing EU Council meetings and negotiations, and for representing the council in talks with the European Parliament and European Commission.
About 30,000 delegates are expected to visit Ireland during the six-month period, with meetings taking place over four-and-a-half months once the August and Christmas breaks are excluded.
Additional reporting Tony Connelly
