Another week has gone by and there is still no sign of the report on Aughinish Alumina from the Minister's Department. It is now over three months since The Irish Times published its investigation on 24 March. It is a month since Deputy Bacik asked the Taoiseach to bring forward a solution to protect jobs and to put in place a ban on exports to Russia. It is eight days since President Zelenskyy delivered a hard truth, which is that every tonne of raw materials that ends up in Russia is used in the war against Ukraine.

The evidence in the public domain is damning. The report in The Irish Times clearly showed that, based on official national statistics, over 80% of alumina from Ireland was being shipped to Russia and turned into weapons. The Minister's Department has disputed this. It says the percentage is less than 50%. Even 1% is 1% too much. Let us remember Zelenskyy's words. He said that every tonne is being used against Ukraine. That alumina is killing innocent Ukrainians every single day. Apartment blocks are being indiscriminately hit by Russian missiles and drones made with Irish materials. This is seriously damaging to our international reputation. We are complicit.

Yesterday, the European Parliament voted in favour of a proposal to ban alumina exports to Russia. This amendment was put forward by the Labour Party's S and D group colleagues and the Minister's party's own grouping, the European People's Party. We welcome Fine Gael and Sinn Féin's support for an export ban. It is disturbing that Independent Ireland's MEP voted in support of the continued export of materials of murder. After all of their strong words of support for Ukraine over many years, it is deeply concerning that Fianna Fáil MEPs abstained on a non-binding motion. The Minister's party's MEP took the morally correct position that we need a ban on these exports to Russia. Does the Minister support them? It looks to me as if Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are divided on this critical issue.

As Labour has said for months, there are options open to us to stop these lethal exports while also protecting jobs. The plant must be nationalised. We will support the Government in taking strong action that sends out an important message internationally as to where we stand. However, the Tánaiste said last week that he had not been part of any discussions about a possible nationalisation of the refinery. That is an astonishing statement to make. We are constantly being told that this operation is important to Ireland as an employer and an energy supplier and that it is vital to the EU industry supply chain. If that is the case, it is an absolute dereliction of duty if the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister's Department are not preparing plans with the European Commission to temporarily take over ownership of this facility, especially when Sweden has determined that the parent company is still controlled by a sanctioned Russian billionaire.

I have three simple questions for the Minister. When will the investigation be completed and the report published? Is there political division between the Government parties over Aughinish Alumina? Has the Minister's Department drawn up any plans, contingency or otherwise, to nationalise the Aughinish refinery?

I thank Deputy Nash for his question on this very important issue. I will say clearly and unambiguously that I share his concerns in relation to ensuring that no product produced in Ireland ends up in the Russian military complex. We are very firm in that belief. Critically, I say that in the context of a Government that has been unwavering in its support for the people of Ukraine. It has provided almost €500 million in aid and supports Ukraine at the coalface when it needs spare parts for its grid or humanitarian aid and support. The Government has fought for Ukraine in every international forum at which we have speaking rights. Critically, Ireland has provided a home for many Ukrainian citizens and provided 14,000 school places for Ukrainian children in the space of a number of months. Irish society really responded to that challenge.

In connection with the report my Department is preparing, there are three competent authorities licensed to carry out these investigations: the Central Bank, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department itself. My Department has operational responsibility for policy in relation to the EU, along with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. We are preparing this report on foot of that responsibility.

I will put one thing very clearly on record in response to something I have heard repeated on a number of occasions. During the negotiations on the 20 sanctions packages introduced since the war in Ukraine began, our Government has never asked for any sanctions not to be imposed on Aughinish Alumina. We have never asked for any leeway. We have never lobbied on the company's behalf. I have heard suggestions in some outlets that the Irish Government was in that company's corner at key European forums. That is not true. The European Commission has brought forward 20 sanctions packages and Ireland has supported them all 100%. It is very important to put that on the record.

I expect to have the report within the next ten days. At this point in time, we are working on a number of clarifications with the Ukrainian authorities. I met with the Ukrainian ambassador earlier this week. We have also been engaged with the Swedish authorities in connection with their investigations. We need some clarifications. We have to reach a certain evidential threshold before going to the European Commission. That is very challenging. I have been honest and open about that. It will be challenging to get evidence that meets that threshold. I have also said that the Revenue Commissioners are reassessing their figures because the management of Aughinish Alumina has advised that an error was made in recording the trade flows to the EU versus the trade flows to Russia. As I have pointed out in the House previously, it is my understanding that, in 2025, about 44% of exports went to Russia. I absolutely agree that it is unacceptable for any amount to get into the wrong hands. However, I must also be clear that we have to put the facts on the record. I have to meet an evidential threshold. My Department has to stress-test what is in front of it. I am hopeful that it will come to me with the final results of the investigation within the next ten days.

The Russians are not using alumina from Aughinish to make Ladas. It is as simple as that. If it is 1%, that is 1% too much. We can argue whether the data says 80% or 50% but, if any scintilla of material from Aughinish is going to the Russian war effort in its illegal war on Ukraine, Ireland needs to stand up. We cannot be selective in the kind of solidarity we show to Ukraine and its civilian population. We need to back Ukraine 100%.

The Minister recently said on "Morning Ireland" that he had no information showing that exports from Aughinish are being used to kill Ukrainian civilians. At this point in time, given that the investigation has been up and running a number of weeks or so now, it is hard to accept that there is no evidence that the Minister is prepared to put on the public record that Aughinish Alumina is, in fact, exporting materials to Russia that are being used for the military effort and to assist the Russian military complex.

It is a little bit hard to take and accept at this point in time, given that the investigation has been up and running for a number of weeks or so now, that there is not any evidence the Minister is prepared to put on the public record that Aughinish Alumina is, in fact, exporting materials to Russia that are being used for the military effort and to assist the Russian military complex. The Minister needs to lay that out here and this report needs to be published before the Dáil rises next Thursday so we can properly debate the report and ensure we are showing the type of real practical support to the people of Ukraine that we ought to be providing.

First of all, I was very clear that any amount of alumina getting into the wrong hands is unacceptable. Second, this is an independent report being carried out by my officials. I am not going to go and tell them, when they tell me they are not finished and that they need more time to stress-test the evidence that is in front of them, that they have to finish that report tomorrow. That is interference and I do not want to interfere or prejudice a report on which they are doing their due diligence. They are a competent authority designated under the European Commission and they are experienced to do that work. That work must be completed and then the report will be presented to me. I and the Government have been very clear that our support for Ukraine is unwavering, but we have to get our evidence together. I said that and I was very honest about that. The reporters from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, OCCRP, were also very honest when they stated in their report that there is no direct evidence that alumina is getting into Russian military items. We are working so hard to get the direct evidence to ascertain that, but it is challenging. I would be dishonest if I were to say this was going to be a simple solution. This is going to be very complex and, critically, the European Commission will have to stand up and take the lead on this. I have said that we will back it. We have backed the European Commission on every single sanctions package that has come forward. Contrary to reports, we have not lobbied on behalf of Aughinish Alumina, nor have I ever done so as a Minister. I mean to support international rules-based order and the vulnerable people in Ukraine.