1057. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to clarify the situation regarding the alumina plant in County Limerick; the steps being taken to ensure materials being exported are not being used for military purposes; and the steps being taken to protect the workers of the plant. [58157/26]

My Department carried out an independent review of alleged breaches of sanctions against Russia by Aughinish Alumina. This independent review assessed the information contained in media reports, sought information from other bodies within and external to the State and also engaged with the company itself.

The review found that no information of a sufficient evidentiary level is currently available to support or confirm the assertions within media articles that alumina from Ireland is entering the supply chain of Russian military contractors. The absence of any such verifiable evidence, coupled with the presence of documentary evidence from the company which rebuts the allegations that have been made, means that, with the information currently available, the Department does not find that the company has committed an offence under EU Regulations 833/2014 and/or 269/2014.

The company has indicated its willingness to bring in independent European auditors to assess its trade into Russia to ensure that materials being exported are not being used for military purposes. My Department will continue to monitor events and assess any further information or reports of potential sanctions breaches that can be examined and verified, and will act accordingly. My Department will continue to work with the European Commission, relevant authorities within Ireland and other authorities throughout the Member States and Ukraine to assess and enforce sanctions.

As Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, I have employees to the forefront of my mind and am conscious of the considerable numbers of people employed by AAL, and the significant economic impact it has in County Limerick and the wider region, in the course of its ongoing operations.