Assessment of Aughinish exports must be 'independent'

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has insisted that any assessment of exports from Aughinish Alumina must be independent of the company.

It has been reported that the Limerick-based plant is appointing a firm to track its products from the plant to assess whether they are fueling Russia's war machine.

Asked about that proposal, Mr Martin said that a "more independent assessment" would be appropriate in a process overseen by the European Commission rather than the company itself.

"For us, it would be for the Commission, in my view, to potentially commission that type of independent assessment as well. The company is quite entitled, of course, to do that, but a more independent assessment would be, I think, an additional factor."

He reiterated the Government’s position that alumina is "an important critical strategic material" for European industry and that Aughinish Alumina was a significant plant in the overall European supply chain.

"If you look at the plant in Dunkirk, about 70% of its material comes from Aughinish. So, one of the fundamental principles of sanctions: we don't do more harm to Europe than to the aggressor."

Mr Martin was speaking during a joint news conference at Farmleigh House with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Case of Irish man on trial in Germany raised

Both leaders were also asked about the trial and treatment of Irishman Daniel Tatlow-Devally who is on trial in Germany.

Mr Devally is a member of the so-called "Ulm 5" on trial in Stuttgart, who were arrested by German police last September after they damaged equipment and spray-painted walls at the German office of Elbit Systems, an Israeli-headquartered firm that supplies weapons systems to the Israeli Defence Forces.

The five activists from Ireland, Germany, Spain and the UK have been charged with trespassing, the destruction of property worth approximately €1m at the office in the southern city of Ulm, and membership of an illegal organisation.

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett has said that the ongoing trial of the 'Ulm 5’ in Stuttgart is "a show trial".

Mr Merz denied that the legal process was a show trial and he said the German judiciary was independent and fully bound by the law.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that the Government had offered consular assistance and there had been up to six visits so far.

He added that a dedicated counsel office had been set up in the consulate general in Munich to support the Irish citizen and his family.

EU cannot afford big spending increases - Merz

Mr Merz has said that the next EU financial framework cannot afford exorbitant spending increases, adding that hundreds of billions of euros in spending cuts are needed rather than increased staffing.

There should also be flexibility on a national level regarding agricultural subsidies, Mr Merz said before the meeting in Dublin

The meeting came during Ireland's six-month presidency of the EU Council.

Speaking in advance of the meeting, Mr Martin said he would express Ireland's solidarity with the victims of the weekend attack on the Berlin Pride festival that killed one person and injured at least 29 others.

He also said that the meeting would focus on "some of the biggest challenges" facing the bloc, including the ongoing wrangle between member states on the size of the EU's long-term budget, competitiveness and EU enlargement at the meeting in Farmleigh.

Germany is one of a number of nations pressing for a smaller settlement than the proposed two trillion euro spending plan.

Additional reporting: PA