DistantNews
Support us
Minister can't provide reassurances to Aughinish workers
🇮🇪 Ireland /Elections & Politics

Minister can't provide reassurances to Aughinish workers

From RTÉ News · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Ireland's Minister for Enterprise, Peter Burke, cannot offer job reassurances to workers at the Russian-owned Aughinish Alumina plant in County Limerick.
  • The department is investigating whether the plant's products are being used in Russian military equipment, which could impact its operations.
  • Minister Burke emphasized that sanctions against Russia are a European Union matter, and Ireland has consistently supported these measures.

Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke has stated he cannot provide job reassurances to the approximately 1,000 workers employed directly at Aughinish Alumina, a Russian-owned company in County Limerick, or the estimated 900 more in its supply chain. The uncertainty stems from an ongoing investigation by the Department of Enterprise into whether the plant's products are being supplied for use in Russian military equipment.

Obviously it is a very challenging circumstance. The company is still operating. At the moment no decision has been taken.

— Peter BurkeResponding to questions about job security at Aughinish Alumina.

"Obviously it is a very challenging circumstance. The company is still operating. At the moment no decision has been taken," Burke told journalists on the fringes of an informal meeting of EU competition ministers in Dublin Castle. "I can't give any reassurances in any regard. This is a European issue," he added, stressing that sanctions policy is a matter for the European Union.

Ireland has supported all 20 packages of sanctions against Russia, aligning with the EU's "Ukraine first" policy. The investigation aims to ascertain the facts and determine the threshold of evidence the department can reach. Minister Burke expects the report from the department imminently.

I can't give any reassurances in any regard. This is a European issue.

— Peter BurkeHighlighting that sanctions policy is determined at the EU level.

"We all meet challenges and we have to respond to those challenges with our values at our core as a country," Burke stated. "That is very important to me as a minister - Ireland’s reputation. We have to work to try to respond to this collectively as the European Union."

Europe has policy responsibility for sanctions we must remember that. And they have to take a very significant decision in that regard.

— Peter BurkeEmphasizing the EU's role in imposing sanctions against Russia.

The company, Aughinish Alumina, is an alumina refinery. The investigation is a critical step in assessing its compliance with international sanctions and its potential role in supplying materials that could support Russia's military activities.

Critically, Ireland had supported 'Ukraine first' in 20 packages of sanctions against Russia.

— Peter BurkeStating Ireland's consistent support for EU sanctions against Russia.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by RTÉ News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog