Russian fertiliser imports
Deputy Tóibín alleged that fertiliser imported from Russia may have involved a sanctioned oligarch, raising concerns about sanctions enforcement and neutrality. The Tánaiste said he only knew the matter from reports, would inquire further, and noted sanctions exemptions for food production including fertiliser.
This week, Aontú broke the news that 40,000 tonnes of fertiliser were imported from Russia to Waterford port. It is estimated this is worth approximately €40 million. It is alleged that the supplier of the fertiliser is a sanctioned Russian oligarch. This is an incredible situation. The Government plans to train Ukrainian military personnel in Ireland, which is clearly in breach of Irish neutrality, on the one hand and it appears the Government is allowing sanctions against Russian oligarchs to be breached on the other. In the middle of all of this, we have farmers trying to buy fertiliser at inflated prices with very little help from the Government. Prices are 250% higher than they were. What investigation is the Tánaiste undertaking into this importation? Will he provide more help to farmers to deal with the shocking cost of fertiliser?
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy. My only information on this so far is from news reports. I will have to make further inquiries into exactly what happened. I would point out that there are exemptions to the sanctions. They relate to medicines, food and food production. This would include fertilisers.
Comment on this
Not to Russian oligarchs. It is the payment to the Russian oligarch that is the point here.