FF MEPs to abstain from vote over Russian alumina exports

Fianna Fáil MEPs will abstain in a European Parliament vote tomorrow on a call for a ban on alumina exports to Russia.

The decision was taken following a meeting in Strasbourg this morning.

Fine Gael MEPs will vote in favour of the amendment.

Dublin MEP Regina Doherty said in a statement last night: "I will be voting in favour of a full ban on the export of alumina from the EU to Russia. Europe cannot continue supplying strategic materials to a regime waging an illegal and brutal war on our continent.

"Every day Putin's invasion claims more innocent lives. If Europe is serious about standing with Ukraine, we cannot allow a single shipment to strengthen Russia's economy or its war machine."

Two amendments, calling for a ban on exports of alumina to Russia, have been added to a debate and vote on a European Commission report on Ukraine's accession process.

The Government is completing a review into the operations of the Co Limerick Aughinish Alumina refinery, following an investigation suggesting that hundreds of thousands of tonnes of alumina from the plant may have found their way into Russia's military industrial complex.

Last week, the Taoiseach said that Ireland will "develop an approach" with the European Commission on how to respond to the shipments of alumina from the Aughinish Alumina refinery.

He said that what appears to be a joint approach involving Dublin and the Commission would flow from the outcome of the Government's investigation into the plant's operations.

Mr Martin did not elaborate on what this joint approach would entail, although he said the outcome of the investigation would be a matter of weeks rather than months.

Read more:

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Meanwhile, Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman called on the Government to "stop avoiding" questions around the Aughinish Alumina site in Limerick and "hoping it will all go away".

Speaking to reporters, Mr O’Gorman criticised the delay in the conclusion of the independent report into the site.

He said he believes further pressure will be placed on the coalition should the European Parliament vote in favour of the non-binding vote seeking to ban the export of alumina from the EU to Russia tomorrow.

If this happens, he said the Government should start to look at real alternatives for the site and the jobs it involves.

Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime this evening, Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee said the Government had been "very clear" that it does not want any material coming out of Ireland "directly feeding" the war in Russia.

She said: "The facts have to be established. There was additional information provided through the Ukrainian embassy in recent weeks.

"It's important that any information we have is assessed as part of that overall review."

Ms McEntee said once they have the facts, they will then obviously decide what needs to happen next.

"We have never voted down or voted against any sanctions package that has been brought forward.

"That is not going to change during our presidency and I would hope the fact that President (Volodymyr) Zelensky came and was invited to our opening ceremony is a very clear signal to them, but also to the rest of the EU, that this is going to be a priority for us during the presidency," she added.