Taoiseach says ‘no concrete evidence’ on alumina exports investigation
By Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press Association in Kyiv
There is no concrete evidence to prove or disprove whether alumina exports from Ireland ended up being used by Russian weapons manufacturers, the Taoiseach has said.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said he would support sanctions on alumina, but also that he supported other ways of preventing alumina from being exported from Ireland to Russia.
Micheál Martin said he had briefed Zelenskiy in a meeting in Kyiv on Thursday about an Irish investigation into alumina exports from a Limerick-based refinery.
He said the probe was “almost complete” and the results would be shared with the European Commission.
“The investigation has not found concrete or definitive evidence linking the Illumina to a weapons manufacturer in Russia,” he said at a joint press conference at the Mariinskyi Palace.
“That said, neither has it found definitive evidence that alumina may not be going to weapons manufacturers, so it’s difficult.
“So what we’re going to do now is we’re going to share the investigation with the European Commission, because this is both an Irish issue and a European issue in terms of alumina.”
Speaking through an interpreter, Zelenskiy said: “Speaking about sanctions, we support sanctioning of the relevant production, and the Taoiseach and I have discussed this today.”
He suggested that efforts could be made at national level to restrict the export of alumina products to Russia.
“So the number one task that we have – the issue – is that this does not reach Russia, so that this does not help weapons production and so that this does not fund this war.
“If this can be achieved by certain internal steps, we would support these processes, but the EU task and sanctions, we also take this with us and we will raise this issue with the EU.”
Ireland also announced a further €125 million in support to Ukraine this year, on a bilateral basis, in addition to €65 million announced earlier this year.
Martin said €100 million of this funding would be directed towards “meeting Ukraine’s defence needs”, including non-lethal military assistance that “builds on Irish support provided last year towards strengthening Ukraine’s air defences”.
Zelenskiy thanked Ireland for its support and in particular mentioned the “very warm” attitude to Ukrainian people in Ireland.
He called for Ireland to show leadership on Ukrainian efforts to join the EU.
During Zelenskiy’s visit to Dublin earlier this month, he said he was hopeful for “a positive result for us” in the investigation carried out by Ireland into alumina exports.
“I have told my team to work through what else could be done in parallel.”
Martin will also meet Ukraine’s new prime minister Serhii Koretskyi, former head of state energy company Naftogaz, who was appointed last week during a controversial government reshuffle.
Zelenskiy has cited Mr Koretskyi’s record in the energy sector and said he was best prepared to guide Ukraine through another winter, when Russian attacks on the power grid intensify.
Martin will also visit the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, and meet its speaker, Ruslan Stefanchuk, where they are expected to discuss EU accession negotiations.
The Taoiseach will also visit civilian areas in Kyiv damaged in recent attacks by Russia and meet members of the Irish community in Kyiv.
