Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
183. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance regarding his Department's responsibility for implementing sanctions relating to Russian actions in Ukraine, whether his Department prepared or received any official advice regarding the Aughinish Alumina plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39702/26]
View answerRestrictive measures, or sanctions as they are generally referred, are a tool of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy. Ireland implements EU sanctions, and it also implements UN sanctions via EU sanctions. Ireland has three competent authorities for all sanctions: the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, and the Central Bank of Ireland. The Central Bank is responsible for the administration and enforcement of financial sanctions.
EU sanctions have direct effect in all Member States of the EU, and they are legally binding on all natural and legal persons in Ireland. As such, a natural or legal person who contravenes a provision of an EU sanctions regulation would be guilty of an offence and liable to prosecution. While EU Regulations have direct effect, each Member State is required to create offences and lay down penalties applicable to infringements of the EU Regulations in domestic law. My Department plays an important role in relation to sanctions policy, and it, alongside the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, is responsible for preparing the requisite Statutory Instruments to establish these offenses and give effect to the penalties.
Ireland has supported strong targeted sanctions in response to Russia’s unjust and illegal invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022. These sanctions are the most expansive and hard-hitting sanctions in EU history. Over 2,700 individuals and entities are now subject to EU restrictive measures. Since February 2022 in excess of €300 billion in assets have been frozen and immobilised across the EU. An unprecedented range of sectoral measures against Russia have been adopted, including measures targeting the financial, energy, technology, defence, media and transport sectors with a view to limiting Russia’s ability to wage its illegal war in Ukraine and access battlefield goods and technology.
I am aware of recent media reports about exports from Aughinish Alumina plant and I take the matters raised in these reports very seriously. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is currently investigating these matters. I am not in a position to comment while an investigation is ongoing. In the context of my Department’s responsibilities for implementing sanctions relating to Russian actions in Ukraine, to date my Department neither prepared or received any official advice regarding the Aughinish Alumina plant.
