Episode Details

A row has erupted over continued exports of alumina from the Aughinish refinery on the Shannon Estuary to Russia, with the Ukrainian Embassy in Ireland expressing what it describes as "serious concern" about the trade. The controversy centres on claims that alumina produced at the Russian-owned plant in County Limerick could ultimately be ending up in supply chains linked to Russia's military-industrial complex. The company insists it is fully compliant with all EU sanctions and trade regulations, while the Government has launched an investigation and says it is awaiting the findings before any decisions are made. The issue raises difficult questions about sanctions, European energy and industrial security, Ireland's support for Ukraine, and the future of one of the country's most significant manufacturing employers. To discuss the political and European dimensions of the story, Alan Morrissey was joined by Newmarket-on-Fergus native and Professor of Politics at Dublin City University, Donnacha Ó’Beacháin, and Billy Kelleher, Fianna Fáil MEP for Ireland South. Image (c) Liam Burke via Irish Times